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NUMBER 487
PHOTO: VICTORY ALLIANCE
By Adam Young Researchers at the University of Rochester HIV Vaccine Trials Unit are conducting the first study in Rochester of a potential oral HIV vaccine. The hope is that by delivering the vaccine in pill form via the “mucosal surface” of the mouth, the immune system’s fight will be strengthened from the get-go. Dr. Michael Keefer, Director of the HIV Vaccine Trials Unit of the Rochester Victory Alliance at the U of R, is one of the doctors leading the study. “The idea is that by delivering it through these capsules we get it to the place where it can create these better immune responses on mucosal surfaces, which is where HIV first encounters the T4 cells when it causes infection in people,” Dr. Keefer said. The theory behind the oral delivery of the Harvarddeveloped vaccine is that the capsules can weather the participant’s stomach acid to reach the immune system at a greater depth and not be inactivated by the stomach. The main component of the vaccine, Adenovirus 26, is expected to trigger an immune response from the body that may be capable of combatting HIV. Though the vac-
Dr. Michael Keefer
cine may cause some “bug”-like symptoms, Dr. Keefer expects the vaccine will produce no serious symptoms in the trial participants. Since the vaccine contains no living or killed HIV, it is impossible to contract HIV from the vaccine. The study is a “dose escalation” study. Four groups, each consisting of six HIV-negative participants between the ages of 18 and 40, will be under isolated observation at a site at St. Mary’s Hospital. Assuming the first group tolerates the initial dosage with no serious side effects, the dosage will be gradually escalated throughout each remaining group. Participants will be observed and isolated throughout the duration of the study
to ensure the vaccine causes no serious symptoms and to prevent the possibility of spreading the Adenovirus to others. “Our main concern is that [it’s] safe,” Dr. Keefer said. “Effectiveness is the next thing we want to achieve.” In order to combat the adaptability of HIV, Dr. Keefer stated the vaccine may need to be combined with other types of HIV vaccines to ultimately be effective. The one-two punch approach may be necessary to prevent virus immunity from fading over time. “We need to get the immune response to recognize the three-dimensional structures as opposed to just the linear structures on the virus,” Dr. Keefer said. After 27 years of preventive HIV vaccine research, Dr. Keefer believes this oral vaccine could be another piece of the puzzle in moving toward a safe, effective HIV vaccine. He is confident the study will go well and it will move on to larger studies, and ultimately licensure studies. “I could see it making a fast track into larger studies. But this is the first thing we have to do and it does take a while to move through these phases of studies,” Dr. Keefer said. For more information about the work of the Rochester Victory Alliance, visit www.rochestervictoryalliance.org or call (585) 756-2329. ■
and thereafter, dealing with the LGBTQ communities’ relationships with other groups in our area which experience injustice,
and how to explore the intersections between homophobia and different forms of prejudice. A $10 donation is appreciated, but optional. Register to attend: www. gayalliance.org Please notify organizers about any needed accommodations. For information: Anne Tischer 244-8640, x13, annet@ gayalliance.org. ■
THE GAY ALLIANCE APPRECIATES THE CONTINUING PARTNERSHIP OF BUSINESSES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY WHO SUPPORT OUR MISSION AND VISION.
The Red Ball, page 10
PHOTO: JILL FRIER
OUR PLATINUM LEVEL PARTNERS:
PARTNERSHIPS CONTINUE ON PAGE 2
MARCH 2015
Wellness Begins With Me: LGBT Health Month 2015
Intersections workshop repeats on March 7 Due to exceptionally high interest in the Feb. 21 Intersections Workshop, “Strengthening our LGBTQ and Ally Communities through the LENS of DIFFERENCE: Race, Sexual Orientation, Gender and Gender Expression,” organizers are scheduling a repeat of the workshop. It will take place on Saturday, March 7, 8:45 a.m. to 12 p.m., at The MOCHA Center, 189 N. Water St., Suite 1. Christopher Goodwin of The MOCHA Center, Steve Jarose of National Coalition Building Institute and Sady Fischer, Diversity Consultant, will again be the educators presenting. Organizers hope to schedule new workshops in April
Fashionistas, p17
A PUBLICATION OF THE GAY ALLIANCE
U of R begins trial of potential oral HIV vaccine
PHOTO: EVA WEISS
The Empty Closet
By Trillium Health Every year, the National Coalition for LGBT Health sponsors a week-long recognition of LGBT health in late March. At Trillium Health, we know LGBT health is important every day, for every identity, at every stage. Our Rochester community has an amazing group of LGBTcentered organizations that work hard every day to improve the quality of life for all of us. With the combined effort and strength of these organizations, we are proud to be able to dedicate an entire month to LGBT health awareness here in Rochester. Some of the highlights of this year’s health month include events and outreach to address current trends that we are observing in the community. These include everything from LGBTQ individuals looking to start families, to an increase in awareness of Truvada as PrEP – an HIV prevention medication strategy proven to be effective in preventing HIV infection. One of the many exciting events during the month will be an afternoon of self-care focused on the Trans* community. This event, to be held on Sunday, March 29, will offer mini-workshops (such as Yoga for Your Body) and a free clothing closet. Another much-anticipated program, Creating LGBTQ Families, will take place on Wednesday, March 25. This event will offer both a panel discussion and information tables with representatives from CNY Fertility, Adoption STAR, Children Awaiting Parents, and Monroe County Foster Care. Trillium Health will also be out at The Bachelor Forum on Mondays to cheer for Mrs. Kasha Davis as she stars in RuPaul’s Drag Race and to offer information and outreach about the importance of HIV and STI testing and how PrEP (pre-expo-
sure prophylaxis) can help prevent HIV transmission. Finally, don’t miss out on “50 Ways to Play!” Jenna Weintraub, educator from Planned Parenthood, will lead this fun, sex-positive discussion. This kink event will be open to all people who identify as feminine in a way that is significant to them. For a complete listing of events, please look at the calendar published on the back cover of this Empty Closet issue. It will also be posted on the Trillium Health website at www.trilliumhealth.org For further information about LGBT Health Month and local resources, please contact Cara Wood (CWood@ trilliumhealth.org) or Jessica Cohen (JCohen@trilliumhealth.org) or contact us by phone at 585-545-7200. Awareness around the need for increased resources for the health and well-being of LGBT New Yorkers is more important than ever. Trillium Health and our community partners are committed to providing the services crucial to the health of our community. Wellness begins with you and me. ■
Inside
Editorials....................................... 2 Interview: Abbe Land................... 7 Making the Scene......................10 Health: HIV research....................16 LGBTQ Living: Fashionistas........17 Shoulders To Stand On ...........21 Columnists ................................22 Community ................................25 Entertainment: Topfree.............27 Gay Alliance: Meet Rowan........30 Calendar.....................................34 Classifieds..................................34 Comics................................ 34, 35 The Gay Alliance is publisher of The Empty Closet, New York State’s oldest LGBTQ newspaper.
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THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 487 • MARCH 2015
Perspectives The Empty Closet Editor SUSAN JORDAN
Religious liberty It’s the latest weapon against LGBTQ people. Conservative extremists’ homophobic hate speech and unconstitutional discrimination now fall under “religious liberty”. According to them. The Catholics and Protestants who slaughtered each other in the 16th century made the same claim, as did the religious and secular authorities who burned or hanged countless women accused of witchcraft from c. 1350 to 1750. If Christian extremists can claim that abuse of gays is vital to their religious faith, then it is perfectly acceptable for the Taliban, Al Qaeda and the Islamic State to say the same about nonMuslims. Theocracy means you get to silence anyone who disagrees with your beliefs. But when faith rejects reason and compassion, it ceases to be faith and becomes fanaticism. For decades now the Right has used LGBTQ people and our families as political footballs. Many wealthy conservative activists don’t really give a damn about the anti-gay Bronze Age taboos in Leviticus. They coldly use prejudice as a vote-getting strategy, just like the “Southern Strategy” of some years ago, when the Republicans discovered that lots of white southerners are racist and they could win those votes by trashing African Americans. Fundamentalist fanatics, on the other hand, may genuinely
believe that Yahweh and Jesus hate gay people and we should all be killed. Or at the very least lose our civil and human rights – which usually leads to violence. Heterosexuals routinely bash and murder gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, trans people and anyone who looks vaguely queer (heterosexuals are sometimes killed because some crackpot bigot thinks they are gay). The rhetoric of the Right incites and enables this outlaw violence. In early January “Christian” thugs attacked a gay bar in SW Russia and critically injured one man. Later that month a “Christian” racist bombed an NAACP office in Colorado. That same day extremist Muslims killed 12 people at the office of the Paris satirical newspaper “Charlie Hebdo”. Already this year at EC presstime, at least nine U.S. trans women of color – the most frequent victims of homophobic violence – have been murdered (see pages 13 and 15). Same hate, same violence. It seems that the extremists who defend “religious liberty” – whether Christian, Islamic, or of any other patriarchal religion – have more in common with each other than with the majority in their own religions. And no matter how much they hate each other, they can all agree on hating gays! “Religious liberty” is actually a mockery and betrayal of Christianity. Jesus sat down with the publican and prostitute. He urged people to be loving and compassionate. He scourged money-changers from the temple and said that it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get to heaven. He never said a word about homosexuality. No wonder the 1% and the evangelicals both quote the tribal taboos of Leviticus rather than the words of their savior! “Religious freedom” is not religious, nor is it freedom. It is an attempt to justify what can never be justified. ■
Gay Alliance Board of Trustees David Zona, President, Jessica Muratore, Vice-President, W. Bruce Gorman, Secretary, Peter Mohr, Treasurer, Jason Barnecut, Chris Hilderbrant, Emily Jones, Jeff Lambert, William Schaefer
Gay Alliance Executive Director SCOTT FEARING
Intersections: Love, Race, Faith and Class If you paid attention during the Pride Parade last year you would have seen a float put together by the Gay Alliance touting our series of discussions called Intersections. This series is intended to encourage discussions within the LGBTQ communities about the challenges we face working together when we come up against our own diversity. I know it is trite but we must remember that LGBTQ people really are everywhere. We are of all races, ethnicities, abilities, gender identities, gender expressions, income levels, ages, faiths... etc., etc. You know what I mean. When vicious attacks against our LGBTQ identity were more common, when fewer laws and policies existed to allow us access, it seems that we may have been able to set aside some of our other diverse identities to collectively focus on LGBTQ equality. That’s not to say that all has been rosy in the world of LGBTQ intra-relations. Our communities have always had their share of infighting. The old right wing cry about a singular “gay agenda” always made me smile because I knew that we could never agree on a single agenda any more than we could agree on fashion accessories.
Name
The same social battles around race and gender that plague American Culture play out in our communities. Since we are a community that is all about one’s identity, the potential for conflict is amplified. Coming out in 1980, it shocked me how hard our little fledgling organization in rural Minnesota had to work to get the “lesbians and gays” to work together. Over the years I have seen these same troubling challenges play out across all identity lines. LGBTQ communities long ago learned the best way to eliminate homophobia was to encourage conversation. Sometimes difficult, sometimes challenging, often uncomfortable, these conversations are the only way to address bias. Social bias and personal bias. So, we must open our minds and hearts to learning from those who are hurting. Recently FBI Director James Comey caught a flack for quoting lyrics from the musical “Avenue Q” song, “Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist.” As a presumed straight, cisgendered male who is white, Comey has a lot of social privilege. But by owning the possibility that he can be biased he took the first step in healing. Further, his position of privilege encourages conversations among his peers. As an organization the Gay Alliance has many times looked at itself in the mirror and challenged ourselves to see where and how we are not being properly inclusive. We know that our work is not done and continue to challenge ourselves just as we challenge others. Intersections hosted its first discussion in February and will host another on March 7 with a focus on issues of race. We hope you will join us as we continue these discussions on the intersections of love, race, faith and class -- not to mention all of the other wonderful elements of diversity that are a part of our wonderful communities. ■
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Address City/State/Zip Phone E-mail Gay Alliance Membership Levels: ❏ $30-99 Advocate ❏ $100 Champion ❏ $1,000-4,999 Triangle Club ❏ $5,000+ Stonewall ❏ Check enclosed in the amount of _________ (check #______) Please charge my credit card in the amount of __________ To: ❏ American Express, ❏ Discover, ❏ MasterCard, ❏ Visa Credit card # ____________________________Exp. Date: _______ ❏ I would be proud to have my donation publicly acknowledged. Benefits: Subscription to The Empty Closet mailed to home or work, plus privileges at each level. Phone: 585 244-8640 or mail to: Gay Alliance, 875 E. Main St., Suite 500, Rochester, NY 14605. Home delivery of The Empty Closet is free with your annual membership.
Gay Alliance partnerships continued from page 1
THANK YOU GOLD LEVEL
City of Rochester Absolut/Malibu
SILVER LEVEL 3 Olives Baccardi
Barefoot Wine Hedonist Artisan Chocolate John’s Tex Mex
BRONZE LEVEL Ameriprise Canandaigua National Bank & Trust Corning Inc. Equal Grounds Coffee House Harter Secrest and Emery LLP ImageOut Jaegermeister Kittleberger Florist and Gifts Labor Federation LGBT Giving Circle of RACF Macy’s New York Life Out and Equal NY Finger Lakes Outlandish Sky Vodka St. John Fisher Tompkins Enterprises Victory Alliance Wegmans Woods Oviatt Gilman LLP
CHAMPION LEVEL Mass Mutual of Buffalo Park Avenue Merchants Association Pride @Work Third Presbyterian Church The Woolbright Group HCR Home Care
MARCH 2015 • NUMBER 487 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET
NewsFronts LOCAL AND STATE
An early D-I contingent.
Dignity Integrity celebrates 40 years By Pat Cloonan On Easter Sunday evening, March 30, 1975, the newlyformed local chapters of Dignity (Catholic) and Integrity (Episcopal) met together at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in downtown Rochester to celebrate in a joint worship service. Thus began a celebration that continues to this day, 40 years later. In a spirit of true ecumenism, Dignity-Integrity/Rochester, or “D-I”, still meets and worships every Sunday evening at 5 p.m. at the same church, now the Church of St. Luke and St. Simon Cyrene. Over the years, several hundred people have passed through those church doors. Some came seeking to be healed and others for reconciliation with their Church. Some came seeking answers and others to have their beliefs validated. Still others came hoping to be prophetic witness to their Church as LGBT Christians, or to be instruments of change within their faith traditions. Some were simply looking for a safe and comfortable place to worship. Whatever the reason, Dignity-Integrity has been there and is still here. Like all organizations, D-I has faced challenges and change. The most notable was the infamous Ratzinger letter from Rome in October 1986, which eventually precipitated the removal of local Catholic priests from presiding at liturgy. Numerous Episcopalian priests, both men and women, helped fill that void, as well as many courageous lay and religious Catholic presiders who now lead the community in Liturgy of the Word. Many people have come and gone at Dignity-Integrity/Rochester. The ties remain strong, however, and those people are fondly remembered and appreciated. To that end, D-I is
planning a huge 40th Anniversary Reunion Picnic on Saturday, Aug. 15. A more formal liturgy and banquet will also be held in early October. Details will be shared in D-I’s monthly column in the groups section of the Empty Closet and on their website. Be sure to mark your calendars!
NCAVP comments on intimate partner violence homicide of Candra Keels The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) has learned of the alleged intimate partner violence (IPV) homicide of Candra Keels that occurred on Jan. 18, in Rochester. Candra’s girlfriend, Sherrita Crumpler, has been arrested and charged with her homicide in what police are calling a domestic violence incident. “Intimate partner violence affects lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer relationships with the same, if not higher, frequency as heterosexual relationships, yet the issue is seldom addressed in national discourses,” said Osman Ahmed, NCAVP’s Research and Education Coordinator at the New York City Anti-Violence Project. “We need more education, services, and prevention programs that seek to end IPV in LGBTQ and HIV-affected communities and provide services and support to LGBTQ and HIV-affected survivors of IPV.” In NCAVP’s report Intimate Partner Violence in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and HIV Affected Communities in 2013, released on October 15, 2014, there were 21 IPV homicides in 2013, the highest recorded level, equal to the 21 homicides in 2012. This is up from 19 IPV homicides in 2011 and more than three times the six documented homicides
in 2010. Additionally, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, lesbians, gay men and bisexual people experience intimate partner violence at the same or higher rates as non-LGB people. NCAVP is working with Alternatives for Battered Women (ABW) to raise awareness of this homicide and to offer support to local communities. ABW is a resource to all survivors of intimate partner violence and domestic violence and offers counseling, education, support, and advocacy for survivors. ABW operates a free and confidential 24-hour at 585-2327353. NCAVP is a resource for anyone who experiences violence. For more information, or to locate an anti-violence program in your area, go to info@ ncavp.org or visit us online. To learn more about national advocacy and receive technical assistance or support, go to info@ ncavp.org.
Nominate a local LGBT leader or ally who has made a difference The nomination process is open to help identify 25 Western New York Community Champions who will be honored at the Empire State Pride Agenda’s 25th anniversary Spring Dinner in Rochester on Saturday, May 16, at the Joseph A. Floreano Rochester Riverside Convention Center. “Western New York has been the font of incredible political, business and faith community leadership during this critical civil rights journey for LGBTAQI equality,” said Emily Jones, chairperson of the Community Champions committee for the Pride Agenda’s Spring Dinner. “The 25th anniversary of the Pride Agenda seemed
3 like the right time to collect these stories, to honor those who paved the way and also recognize the amazing work being done by young professionals and young people today.” Since the inception of the Spring Dinner, each year the Pride Agenda has publicly recognized a member of the Western New York community for their commitment and work towards our mission with our Community Service Award. It only made sense to celebrate 25 great community leaders who have furthered LGBT equality in the organization’s 25th year. “While celebrities can certainly help to place LGBT issues in the spotlight and promote acceptance, I believe that we need to identify and celebrate the local champions who’ve stepped up to make our community progressive and safe,” added Lorraine Woerner-MacGowan, who has two teenage sons. “Whether they are LGBT or an ally, they are the true and honorable role models that we need to embrace and thank for setting a great example for how to be in this world, especially for our youth.” A young attorney, Michael P. Scott-Kristansen expresses his gratitude: “I have escaped many of the ills of discrimination that people who are LGBT have experienced in the past and continue to experience. A major reason for my fortunate experience is the work of uncounted people who have risked much and labored hard to change laws, perceptions, and ideas concerning LGBT people. Most of these people I might never meet, but I am indebted to them for what they have achieved.” “The LGBT rights movement has not been linearly focused, as LGBT people we are entwined in every fabric of every society,” explained well-known youth volunteer, BJ Scanlon. “There have been champions that have worked in labor, faith, education, marriage rights, health advocacy, youth mentoring, housing, and counseling… the list goes on and on.” “It’s honestly amazing to hear about the things that are being done in our community that happen on the periphery,” Jones added, “because the folks that are doing this work aren’t looking for recognition, they are just looking to do what is right, and we want to share their stories.”
For 24-year-old Christopher Sardella, the Community Champion Awards are a way to say thank you: “I’ve been out for five years and have never felt unsafe, unwelcome or discriminated against, or even worried to hold another man’s hand,” he said. “Unfortunately, it hasn’t always been that way, but thanks to members of the LGBT community and allies alike who have fought long and hard to make Rochester and Western New York freer and safer for everyone, I’ve always been able to live my life freely and openly.” “There are so many leaders, many who had to remain quiet, who have risked their positions within their community to open the conversation to create open and affirming change throughout the Rochester region,” Jones said. “It is time that we hear their stories and celebrate their courage.” To nominate an individual or individuals in Western New York who have made significant or frequent contributions in the pursuit for LGBT rights locally, and for the betterment of LGBT people across the state, visit prideagenda.org/SpringDinner. Nominations close on March 15.
Finger Lakes Pride at Work gets national recognition On Jan. 18, The Rochester Finger Lakes Chapter of Pride at Work AFL-CIO was recognized nationally by the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFLCIO) for the outstanding community leadership and labor and civil rights activism they have exhibited since their inception in 2007. The chapter was honored for “Keeping the Dream Alive” by supporting all workers rights and advancing LGBTQ civil rights in particular. Their success in expanding LGBTQ acceptance within Rochester unions was demonstrated by the “handson” advocacy of local unions, including police and firefighters, during the successful marriage equality campaign, when Rochester’s New York State Senator Alesi became the first Republican legislator ever to publicly support same-sex marriage. The labor recognition and (Pride @ Work continues page 6)
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THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 487 • MARCH 2015
NewsFronts NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL
classes of protected citizens. “Any such expansion like that should be done by legislation,” Hawley said. Asked if Brownback is proposing such legislation, Hawley said he is not. The Human Rights Campaign reacts: “This is a dramatic reversal for Kansas. For eight years, LGBT state employees have been guaranteed non-discrimination protections and in one foul, reckless, and shameful decision, Governor Brownback has taken the state backward. His deplorable behavior is a direct assault on fairness and equality in the state.” -JoeMyGod.com
NYC Mayor DeBlasio will boycott St. Patrick’s Day Parade again
Marriage equality could go national in June By Joe Morgan on gaystarnews.com Gay couples across the U.S. could be celebrating the right to marry in every single state this June. The Supreme Court has indicated the justices are likely to rule that no state can restrict marriage to only heterosexual couples. Only two out of the nine justices -- conservatives Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia -- have dissented from the court’s refusal to block gay weddings from starting in Alabama. Same-sex marriage is now legal in 37 out of 50 states. Thomas admitted the court’s move “may well be seen as a signal of the court’s intended resolution” as it considers cases from Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee on whether a ban on same-sex marriage should be permitted in the Constitution. Oral arguments in the cases are due in April, with a decision expected by the end of June. The Human Rights Campaign, normally cautious, has even told gay couples in the 13 states where gay marriage is banned to “start your wedding plans now”. Sarah Warbelow, the HRC legal direc-
tor, has said “There is virtually zero risk that [the justices] will issue an anti-equality ruling this summer.” - See more at: http://www. gaystarnews.com/article/gaymarriage-could-be-coming-entire-usjune100215#sthash.1saaWtby.dpuf
Brownback rescinds order protecting Kansas LGBT state workers Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback on Feb. 11 rescinded a 2007 executive order that protected state workers from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. In place of that order, Brownback issued another order that he said “reaffirms the commitment of the State of Kansas to employment practices which do not discriminate based on race, color, gender, religion, national origin, ancestry or age.” The civil rights protection was one of nine executive orders originally signed by Governors Kathleen Sebelius and Mark Parkinson that Brownback rescinded. Most of those orders established boards and commissions that Brownback said no longer meet. Brownback’s press secretary, Eileen Hawley, said that when Sebelius signed the original order in 2007, she “unilaterally” established two additional
Via Irish Central: It appears New York Mayor Bill de Blasio will again boycott this year’s St. Patrick’s Day parade on Fifth Avenue because of the lack of an Irish gay group in the line of march, multiple sources have told the Irish Voice. A non-Irish gay group from NBC, OUT@NBCUniversal, will march. On Feb. 10, City Council Member Daniel Dromm of Queens confirmed to the Irish Voice that a majority of council members, including Speaker Melissa Mark Viverito, will not take part in the parade. The council formally boycotted and withdrew its banner from last year’s march in protest, and plans on doing the same for 2015, Dromm confirmed. “I won’t march until an Irish gay group can march,” Dromm told the Irish Voice. “And there will be no council banner in this year’s parade – of course there won’t,” he added. The decision by the parade committee to allow a gay group to march next month for the first time – OUT@NBCUniversal – came about for corporate reasons only, Dromm said. “It’s not acceptable to us,” Dromm added. “We’ve been struggling for 25 years to have an Irish gay group in the march and they still won’t allow us to march.” Anti-gay Cardinal Timothy Dolan, this year’s grand marshal, has expressed support for the inclusion of the one corporate LGBT group, earning him widespread scorn on right wing sites. When De Blasio boycotted last year, rightwing Catholic extremist Bill Donohue was thrilled. RELATED: The LGBT-inclusive St. Pat’s For All Parade takes place in Queens on March 1.
SAGE launches senior housing initiative Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE) has launched a comprehensive national initiative to address the LGBT older adult housing crisis, hosting a panel discussion at its national headquarters yesterday with marriage equality pioneer Edie Windsor and key leaders
working on this issue across the country. LGBT older people often face unique challenges in finding safe, affirming, affordable housing, and are disproportionately living in poverty, often as the result of lifelong discrimination. A 2014 report by the Equal Rights Center, with support from SAGE, found that 48 percent of older same sex couples applying for senior housing as part of a national test were subjected to discrimination. This high level of discrimination makes it extremely difficult for LGBT older people to find appropriate housing as they age. “Addressing the current housing crisis is a critical first step in improving the lives of LGBT older people—which is the heart of SAGE’s mission,” said Michael Adams, Executive Director of SAGE. “This initiative puts a national frame around the work of many talented leaders in the housing field, and will drive clear strategies to transform the housing landscape for LGBT elders.” Jennifer Ho, Senior Advisor for Housing and Services at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, spoke at the launch of SAGE’s initiative and affirmed HUD’s support for the effort, stating that “the LGBT community’s needs must be front and center” as HUD expands senior housing across the country. • SAGE’s Initiative provides five strategies to expand housing opportunities for LGBT older people: • Building LGBT elder housing and sharing SAGE’s expertise from such projects; • Training existing housing facilities to provide housing in an LGBT-welcoming, non-discriminatory manner; • Changing public policies to clear the way for more LGBT elder housing and bar housing discrimination against LGBT older people; • Educating LGBT older people in how to look for LGBT-friendly housing and how to exercise their rights; and • Expanding LGBT-friendly services available in housing sites across the country. SAGE will also partner with HELP U.S.A., a national affordable housing developer, to build New York City’s first LGBT-inclusive older adult housing; the project will be located in the Bronx. Planning for the New York City project is still in its preliminary stages, with further announcements to come at a later date. ABOUT SAGE SAGE (Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders) is the country’s largest and oldest organization dedicated to improving the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) older adults. Founded in 1978 and headquartered in New York City, SAGE is a national organization that offers supportive services and consumer resources to LGBT older adults and their caregivers, advocates for public policy changes that address the needs of LGBT older people, and provides training for aging providers and LGBT organizations through its National Resource Cen-
MARCH 2015 • NUMBER 487 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET ter on LGBT Aging. With offices in New York City, Washington, DC and Chicago, SAGE coordinates a growing network of 27 local SAGE affiliates in 20 states and the District of Columbia — including Rainbow SAGE of Rochester. Learn more at sageusa.org and lgbtagingcenter.org.
GOP blocks bill to protect LGBT students The Republican-controlled House Education & the Workforce Committee on Feb. 10 prohibited a vote on the inclusion of non-discrimination protections for LGBT students as part of an education reform bill, reports the Washington Blade. During a committee markup of the Student Success Act, the committee voted along the party-line by 21-15 to table the amendment. Rep. Carlos Curbelo, who is considered a supporter of marriage equality and recently became a co-sponsor of the Respect for Marriage Act, is one of the Republicans who voted to table the amendment. The proposed amendment was submitted by gay Democratic Rep. Jared Polis who is also co-chair of the LGBT Equality Caucus. Introducing the amendment, Polis said: “This is something I think we can all agree on. Schools are there to serve all learners. I hope we don’t play out our social prejudices and arguments on the kids in school because it truly doesn’t matter in this context whether you think they ought to be able to have their marriages accepted by the government. “Here, it’s simply about should they be able to go to school free of the fear of intimidation, and every child has that right as an American.” However, anti-gay North Carolina Republican Rep. Virginia Foxx said that although she abhors “any kind of discrimination or any kind of intimidation,” she objected to the amendment because it was not relevant to the larger bill. Republican Committee Chairman John Kline agreed with Foxx’s assessment, stating, “The amendment is beyond the scope of a bill, which addresses improving elementary and secondary school education.” Ian Thompson, legislative representative for the American Civil Liberties Union, said that Republicans “had an opportunity to act to better the lives of LGBT students and send a strong signal that harassment and discrimination have no place in our country’s public schools” but “chose to engage in legislative gamesmanship instead.” On Feb. 10, Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., and Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colo., filed the bill that would protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students from discrimination in the nation’s K-12 public schools by establishing new federal non-discrimination protections modeled after Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.
SF trans community stages die-in at City Hall Members of San Francisco’s trans community staged a die-in in front of the city hall the second week in February. More than 20 trans women, dressed in red and black, lay down on the sidewalk and acted dead in a bid to bring attention to the six trans women of color murdered already in 2015. Hundreds of people -- trans and their allies -- took part in the rally following the murder of Taja deJesus, a trans woman stabbed to death on the steps outside a Bayview apartment on 1 February. “There’s a lot of unanswered questions,” Danielle Castro, a close friend of DeJesus and one of the event organisers, told abc7News prior to the die-in. “But the one thing I know is that I’m not going to take it anymore. It’s time for us to stand up together.” The Trans Activists for Justice and Accountability Coalition (TAJA) demanded the city’s Board of Supervisors help to
end what they see as systematic violence against the trans community. Many attendees planned to attend the Board of Supervisor’s weekly meeting to demand they form a transgender specific mission whose aim is to address violence and provide support, including housing for the community. In an interview with CBS local Castro said, “I want our allies to stop videotaping us with their phones and recording the hate that’s committed against us and stand up for us instead of showing us like a circus act on YouTube.” In 2015 six trans women of color have already been murdered in the US. Last year, at least 226 trans people across the world were killed. - See more at: http://www. gaystarnews.com/article/sanfran-trans-people-lie-dead-protest-violence-killings120215#sthash.Jgc7teeI.dpuf
Michael Sam’s fiancé “made me comfortable to be who I am” By Darren Wee on gaystarnews.com Photo via Human Rights Campaign Michael Sam said he knew “damn sure” he was gay after his first sexual experience and credited his fiancé with giving him the self-confidence to come out. The first openly gay NFL footballer on Feb. 13 received an Upstander Award at the Time to THRIVE gay youth conference in Portland, organized by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). In his acceptance speech, Sam paid tribute to his fiancé Vito Cammisano. “Vito has been with me for a long time and actually it is because of Vito that I am here tonight to talk to you guys,” he said. “He is the only one who made me comfortable to be who I am; to be comfortable in my own skin. And without him, this would never be possible. I owe him everything.” Sam proposed to his college boyfriend at the Vatican in December. The footballer said that he knew he was “different” growing up but he did not know he was gay. “I didn’t know I was gay, I just knew I was different. But I always knew I had football. So, I was like, you know, when I go to college I will experiment. I will see if – maybe, I’m not gay. Maybe, it’s a phase,” he said. “But after that first time, I knew pretty damn sure I was.” HRC said by coming out, Sam sent “an invaluable message” to gay youth. “We are excited and privileged to recognize Michael Sam, and his brave commitment to leading an authentic life in a profession that has been historically unwelcoming to LGBT people,” said Vincent Pompei, chair of Time to THRIVE and director of the HRC Foundation’s youth well-being project. “By coming out, Michael sent an invaluable message to young LGBT Americans that anything is possible for them – even playing in the NFL.”
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See more at: http://www.gaystarnews. com/article/michael-sam-after-myfirst-time-i-knew-damn-sure-i-wasgay160215#sthash.X2KgOEFE.dpuf COMMENTARY: Whether the NFL will let Sam play is another question. He has been dropped by the Cowboys, presumably because he is openly gay.
ence Republicans who support marriage equality versus those those who oppose it: “We’re guessing it’s still more of a voting issue for those who oppose gay marriage than those who support it -- at least on the GOP side.” Read more: http://www.towleroad. com/#ixzz3S0nml97W
Poll: GOP support for marriage equality is rising rapidly
Texas judge strikes down marriage ban
A new poll from NBC News and Marist College suggests that support for same-sex marriage among Republicans may be growing at such a rate as to make opposition to marriage equality a political deal-breaker for the majority of GOP primary voters in 2016. As The Washington Post reports, opposition to same-sex marriage is as unpalatable as support for Common Core, immigration reform, a belief in man-made climate change and support for raising taxes on the wealthy: The polls, in fact, show that about half of likely GOP caucus and primary voters in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina said they find opposition to gay marriage either “mostly” or “totally” unacceptable in a candidate. Fifty-two percent of likely Republican primary voters in New Hampshire and South Carolina said opposing gay marriage is either mostly or totally unacceptable, while 47 percent of likely Iowa caucus voters agree. By comparison, 63 percent of Iowa voters say belief in man-made climate change (and fighting it) is unacceptable, 56 percent of New Hampshire voters say raising taxes on the wealthy is a non-starter, and 52 percent of South Carolina voters say support for comprehensive immigration reform that includes a path to citizenship is a deal-breaker on one level or another. Voters in all three states find a candidate who supports gay marriage to be about as acceptable as one who doesn’t toe the party line on any of these issues. And while the numbers are surprising, they make some sense. A Pew poll conducted in March 2014 showed 39 percent of Republicans and Republican leaners supported gay marriage. Add the passage of time and the fact that non-Republicans can vote in New Hampshire and South Carolina, and you’ve got a potentially less antigay marriage electorate come next year. So will we see a GOP candidate in 2016 endorse marriage equality? “Probably not,” according to The Post. “While there are some supporters of immigration reform (Bush and Marco Rubio) and Common Core (Bush) in the group, the name of the game is alienating as few people as possible.” The report also speculates on whether the wording of the question in the polls -- asking about opposition to same-sex marriage instead of about support for it -- may have skewed the results. The other question that remains unanswered is how much a candidate’s views on samesex marriage will motivate and influ-
Travis County, Texas Probate Judge Guy Herman has struck down the state’s ban on same-sex marriage, The Austin Statesman reports: Herman ruled as part of an estate fight in which Austin resident Sonemaly Phrasavath sought to have her eight-year relationship to Stella Powell deemed to have been a common-law marriage. Powell died last summer of colon cancer. A call is out to Travis County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir to determine her plans in light of the ruling. DeBeauvoir has said in the past that she is ready to begin distributing marriage licenses to same-sex couples as soon as allowed by the courts. DeBeauvoir had also told Towleroad she was willing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. However, according to reporter Chuck Lindell, Travis County will not be issuing marriage licenses to LGBT couples just yet. Texas’ marriage ban was previously struck down by U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia, though that decision was stayed until the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals could weigh in on the subject as it is considering a similar challenge to the ban. –Towleroad.com
Small W. Va. town passes inclusive anti discrimination order Thurmond, West Virginia has become the smallest town in the United States to pass an order banning discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, reports WVPV. In a unanimous vote on Feb. 16, Thurmond’s five residents approved employment, housing and public accommodation protections to a new town-wide Human Rights Act. Andrew Schneider, Executive Director of statewide advocacy group Fairness WV, said the Thurmond ordinance is stronger than current protections in West Virginia’s Human Rights Act. Although attempts to extend protections have failed in the West Virginia Legislature for years, towns including Charleston, Huntington, Morgantown, Athens, and Harpers Ferry have adopted similar ordinances banning discrimination against LGBT people. Despite progress, politicians around the United States continue attempts to repeal non-discrimination orders. Read more: http://www.towleroad. com/#ixzz3RYANy2gY (Newsfronts continues page 11)
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THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 487 • MARCH 2015 required real unity across communities to demand justice, the Fight for 15 requires activity and solidarity from all of us. No one can stand alone and hope to win their fight, but with the support of the broader community, we begin to build the real power necessary to create fundamental change. Let’s do it again! On April 15 at 5:30 p.m., hundreds will gather at the University of Rochester and march through Collegetown demanding living wages for all. We hope that you’ll join us as we strive to reduce poverty in one of the hardest hit areas of our country. For more information go to www.MetroJustice.org.
LOCAL AND STATE (Pride @ Work from page 3) financial award was presented in Atlanta, Georgia at the AFL-CIO’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Civil and Human Rights Conference. Bess Watts, co-founder and current president of the Rochester chapter, reflects, “It is wonderful to be recognized by the AFL-CIO for the work we have done over the years, but we remain aware of the gaps in LGBTQ worker protections and have growing concern about the declining prospects for American workers overall. We will continue to be an integral and active part of the Labor and LGBTQ movement.” Danny Donohue, President of Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA), said, “Leaders like Bess Watts, in her bravery and unrelenting resolve to advance the rights of all workers, especially those of the LGBTQ community, are an inspiration to me personally. Together, we will continue to create safe and inclusive workplaces for all workers.”
Fight for 15 demands minimum wage increase By Colin O’Malley The LGBT community is familiar with struggle. Not just the difficulties experienced in the day-to-day lives of often marginalized peoples, but also the beautiful and inspirational struggle of those same people standing up and demanding justice and equality. At Metro Justice, we know how inspirational many in our LGBT community have been, as we stood alongside you all in the fight for marriage equality. Today we stand alongside another community waging a beautiful struggle for justice and equality – fast food work-
Photo courtesy Metro Justice
ers. As part of the nationwide Fight for 15, we are working with fast food workers to demand an industry wage of $15/hr and the right to form a union without retaliation in one of the most profitable industries in our country. At first glance, some think of these as totally separate fights. But, from the front lines of both fights, I can tell you that simply isn’t true. Higher-than-average rates of poverty faced by lesbian and gay families are even higher in the transgender community, and downright frightening in LGBT communities of color. We begin to see incredible levels of poverty with people that face a combination of racism, sexism, and homophobia. Many of the people that were fighting for marriage equality were either unemployed or stuck in low-wage jobs like fast food. Today, many of the leaders in the local Fight for 15 are LGBT, and that is part of the reason they are fighting. “Discrimination on the job is real, and
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without unions workers have a hard time stopping it,” said Kim Ramos, a local Wendy’s worker and leader in the Fight for 15. “I worked with my partner, and it was nearly impossible to get time off together. My manager said he didn’t need to help ‘those type of people’.” Transgender workers have also been standing up and joining the movement. “As a transman, making $15 an hour and having a union would help get me out of poverty, win respect at work, and continue forward with my transition,” said Oliver Puente, Tim Hortons employee. As Metro Justice found, many of the workers taking the lead in this effort were LGBT. “At my last fast food job, like half of the store was gay or lesbian,” says Dana Smith, Dunkin Donuts employee and former president of her high school Gay-Straight Alliance. “Think of what it would mean for our community if we were making a real living wage.” Just as the fight for marriage equality
Flower City Pride Band to hold open house The Flower City Pride Band will kick off its 21st season with an OPEN HOUSE on Wednesday, March 4. This is a great opportunity to check out the band, and see how you might become involved. Did you play an instrument in high school or college? If so, it is never too late (Band continues page 11)
MARCH 2015 • NUMBER 487 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET
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Interview Abbe Land, Executive Director/CEO of the Trevor Project By Susan Jordan The Trevor Project was founded in 1998 by the creators of the film “Trevor” to provide crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ youth, ages 13-24. Many celebrities have signed on to help inform youth about the Project, most notably Daniel Radcliffe, who as Harry Potter is known to young people everywhere. Abbe Land, Trevor ED spoke at the University of Rochester Medical Center on Jan. 27. She also talked with The Empty Closet about the organization and its services and programs. Based in New York City and Los Angeles, Trevor also has volunteers and community resources in Atlanta, Chicago, Philadelphia, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington D.C. The Project offers a 24/7 Lifeline with trained counselors, 1-866488-7386; Trevor Chat, instant messaging; TrevorSpace online where youth can talk to each other, and Trevor Text, now in development, with text trained counselors for support and crisis intervention. Abbe Land said, “Last year there was a 20 percent increase in use of the Lifeline. I think that means the word about Trevor is getting out as we expand outreach and use of social media. Unfortunately, statistics on calls are fairly the same since 1998. Research shows young people who identify as LGB are three to four times more likely to attempt suicide, and those with family rejection are more like eight times more likely. Trans-
“We want to be that person at the essential moment when they reach out. Each call is different — we do what we call ‘active listening’.” Abbe Land of the Trevor Project. Photo: Susan Jordan
gender statistics indicate 40 to 60 percent have attempted suicide.” She noted, “We’re a crisis services provider and certified lifeline. Our model is first to deal with the caller and de-escalate their tension. Sometimes they call back and sometimes they don’t, and there is no way to track them subsequently. “We want to help young people find local help; we have a database of resources all over the country. We always say, ‘The most courageous thing you can do is ask for help.’ Suicide is a very complicated issue. Many factors go into why one person commits suicide and another person doesn’t. Although the issue of suicide is complicated, one person can make all the difference. We shouldn’t be
afraid to talk about it.” Land said that the Trevor Project wants to be there for the callers when they have reached out for someone to intervene. “We want to be that person at the essential moment when they reach out. Each call is different — we do what we call ‘active listening’. Many young people have challenges at home and school, but don’t attempt suicide.” She said that she would like young LGBT people in Rochester to know how to look for resources. She added, “We do education in the general community so that everyone can be aware of the warning signs of suicide. We have a Lifeguard workshop, online or on DVD, designed for young people to learn how to become lifeguards for their friends, and we have education
models designed for teachers and school personnel. Our website has a resource center with information for young people, parents and teachers.” Forty percent of homeless youth identify as LGBT, Land said. “If families don’t welcome them at home, we can refer them to local and state resources.” Land talked about Trevor’s social media outreach, and how it can help youth feel less alone. “TrevorSpace, online, encourages youth to join so they can talk to each other. It’s a great way for young people to share stories. I would say to Rochesterarea youth, ‘You are perfect just the way you are. If you feel you need help, call the Trevor Project. If you have friends who are in trouble, don’t be afraid to talk to them or to an adult.’” ■
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THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 487 • MARCH 2015
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THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 487 • MARCH 2015
Making the Scene
PUTTIN’ ON THE GLITZ: Although temperatures were in the single digits, around 260 people partied at the Gay Alliance’s Red Ball on Feb. 7 at the Diplomat Party House. The Alliance hosts this community dance every year on or near Valentine’s Day. This year’s theme was Roaring 20s. Photos: Jill Frier
My Own Private Rochester: C. Todd White By Susan Jordan C. Todd White, anthropologist and author and historian of the pre-Stonewall gay rights movement, has lived all over the country. He arrived in Rochester in January 2007, to teach at Brockport. Todd has maintained a home in the South Wedge ever since, although he spends a lot of time traveling and teaching at the College of New Jersey. Many of his book reviews have been published in Out N.J. and he is author of Pre-Gay L.A. His current project is a history of the early gay group the Mattachine Society—“a society that never was”. He travels to New Orleans to talk with pioneer activist and ONE magazine publisher Billy Glover, who lives there now. Todd’s travel companions are Skyler, a three-year-old dog he rescued from Lollipop Farm, and Gandalf, a 35-year-old parrot who has traveled with Todd since Todd was 16. Todd said, “I drive cross country to L.A. with Gandalf and Skyler usually every other year. I put a lot of miles on the car, that’s for sure! Part of my job is to travel the country and rescue gay archives. The State of California is curating my personal archives.” Todd works with the Homosexual Information Center archive, founded in 1965, at California State at Northridge. The HIC is the surviving half of the early gay magazine ONE, but is now called Tangents magazine, dba the Tan-
Gandalf
Todd White on South Avenue. Photo: Susan Jordan
gent Group. Despite his frequent travels, Todd is devoted to Rochester. His most-admired local people include Ron Schutt and Dan McCarthy of Print Roc, John White of Equal Grounds, Todd Gustafson of RGMC, Gerry Szymanski of the Gay Alliance Library and Archives, Evelyn Bailey of Shoulders to Stand On and Buffalo historian Madeline Davis. Todd notes, “I love Rochester’s coffee shops, especially Boulder and Equal=Grounds. And I like the Avenue
Pub because it has a personality. I always run into someone I know. I also LOVE Jones Pond, and Park Avenue Pets, and Park Avenue in general. Also the South Wedge, of course!” He adds, “A BIG one – Highland Park. I also like the Rush Rhees Library at UR – I worked there for a year.” His favorite restaurants are La Casa, a new Mexican restaurant on Alexander St., and Mark’s Texas Hots on Monroe Ave. Todd especially likes the Lilac and Park Avenue Festivals. He said, “I love the
RPO when I can afford it, and the free concerts at UR, and I love the George Eastman House and the Little Theatre.” Todd observes, “True gay communities like Rochester are really rare. What’s amazing to me right now is the idea that ‘gayborhoods’ are falling apart. Maybe we need to look at ‘gay archipelagos’ – smaller gay communities. “Rochester has staying power. It’s one of the best-kept secrets in the gay country. I fell in love with the city and the South Wedge. It’s been my home since 2007. As an anthropologist I’m trained to see systems – and everything here looked stable and had staying power. I don’t think people here realize this. “Rochester though was hard to break into – kind of closed, like in Lincoln, Neb. I still don’t feel like I’ve broken through – and I shouldn’t – because I AM a newcomer.” ■
MARCH 2015 • NUMBER 487 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET
LOCAL AND STATE (Band from page 6) to start back up. Have you always wanted to play a band instrument? If so, this is a great place to start. Flower City Pride offers free music lessons to those wanting to learn an instrument, or simply get their chops back. The band will be adding more marching performances this year, so flag corps members are welcome, as always. While we specifically need drummers, new members are welcome on any traditional band instrument, at any skill level. FCPB members are also members of the international Lesbian and Gay Band Association, which offers performance opportunities at annual conferences and events around the world. The LGBA band (including some of our members) has performed for both Inaugural Parades for President Obama, as well as concerts in Australia, Germany, and Amsterdam. Take this opportunity to see what FCPB is all about! Join us on Wednesday, March 4, at 6:30 p.m., at the Open Arms MCC Community Center, 707 East Main St. We will have refreshments, an informational meeting, and a short rehearsal. Bring your instrument if you would like to play that evening. Call (585)420-8621 for more information. ■
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL (Newsfronts from page 5)
Chinese film on accepting gay children goes viral at New Year Much like Thanksgiving here in the West, the Lunar New Year is a time for many of those celebrating to reconnect and gather with their families. In celebration of the Lunar New Year, PFLAG China has released a short film entitled “Coming Home” celebrating parents that have accepted their queer children for who they are. The Hollywood Reporter notes that the film has already garnered over 100 million online views. Though China as a country has steadily made incremental progress in its treatment of its LGBT population, a significant portion of the population and most of the Chinese government holds true to traditions and policies that discourage queer people from coming out. “Coming Home” tells the story of an openly gay man who returns to be with his family years after they initially rejected him for coming out. The film’s popularity spiked, with hundreds of thousands of people sharing it via QQ Live, a Chinese video-based social networking platform. “Be brave and be yourself,” one of the mothers featured in the film implored those watching. “Tell your parents your experiences, and we will share with you.” Read more: http://www.towleroad. com/#ixzz3S6ikcDxU
Slovenia moves forward on marriage equality Via RTV Slovenia: The Committee of the National Assembly voted 11-2 on an amendment to the law on marriage and family relations,
which changes the definition of marriage. Will same-sex partnership be seen as equal to a marriage between a man and a woman? The debate lasted for several hours in the parliamentary committee for Labour, Family, Social Affairs and the Disabled. Members discussed the amendment of the Law on Marriage and Family Relations. The amendment was proposed by the opposition party, United Left, which says that marriage applies to two people regardless of gender. More from Pink News: “This is an infinitely practical suggestion; it proposes treating all couples with dignity and respect. Such a move would signal that Slovenia values its same-sex couples just as much as its heterosexual citizens, based on basic equality principles and common sense,” said Evelyne Paradis, ILGA-Europe’s Executive Director. A new Family Code which extended rights and protections currently enjoyed by married heterosexual couples to samesex unions in Slovenia was previously approved by the parliament in 2011. However, that law was rejected by a narrow margin in a referendum held the following year.
Chelsea Manning will finally receive basic medical care Chase Strangio, attorney with the ACLU Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender & HIV Project and counsel for Ms. Manning in her lawsuit against Department of Defense and Army officials for adequate medical care while she is incarcerated, issued the following statement. The lawsuit, Manning v. Hagel, was filed in September of 2014 and negotiations have been ongoing since the filing. “Chelsea has waited years to receive basic medical care that she needs to treat her gender dysphoria. Since she arrived at the United States Disciplinary
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Barracks at Fort Leavenworth in August of 2013, advocating for her medically necessary health care has been Chelsea’s priority. She has fought her whole life, and particularly over the course of the past few years, to be seen and affirmed as who she is--as Chelsea,” said Strangio. “We are thrilled for Chelsea that the government has finally agreed to initiate hormone therapy as part of her treatment plan. This is an important first step in Chelsea’s treatment regimen and one that is in line with the recommendations of all of her doctors and the basic requirements of the Eighth Amendment. But the delay in treatment came with a significant cost to Chelsea and her mental health and we are hopeful that the government continues to meet Chelsea’s medical needs as is its obligation under the Constitution so that those harms may be mitigated. “Meanwhile the fight continues. The military continues to refuse to let Chelsea grow her hair like other female prisoners, a critical part of her treatment plan that has been recognized by her doctors. The resistance to meeting Chelsea’s full treatment needs is a reflection of the deeply entrenched stigma associated with transgender health care. There is no transgender exception to the requirements of the Eighth Amendment and we will keep fighting for Chelsea’s health needs (Chelsea continues page 12)
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NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL (Chelsea from page 11) until she is treated fully and adequately. It is additionally concerning that private medical information about Chelsea’s care was again leaked by government officials despite clear protections in federal law and the existence of a protective order.”
Egyptian man arrested at bathhouse attempts self-immolation The self-righteous actions of conservative moral crusaders never fail to leave a swath of destruction in their wake. In December there was a raid on an Egyptian bathhouse, lead by conservative moral crusader and all around awful human being Mona Iraqi. Despite the raid probably being illegal, despite the allegations that vice squad leader of the raid Lt. Col. Ahmed Hashad fabricated his testimony, despite the fact that all of the men arrested were acquitted, the social fallout has prompted one of the victims to attempt suicide via self-immolation. The victim had an interview with the newspaper El-Watan: “I work in a restaurant in the Shobra district. I’m harassed constantly in my workplace by the words of the people and the looks in their eyes.” He also told them that his family locked down on his movements, tried to keep him at home, and one of his brothers insisted on following him everywhere he goes. In February, Iraqi returned to television, doubling down on her hate, accusing her detractors of being foreign agents and insisting her raid was about sex trafficking and preventing the spread of AIDS. Hashad, whose lies helped acquit the accused, appeared on the show with
THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 487 • MARCH 2015 her and also doubled down, saying that he had engaged in an extended surveillance of the bathhouse. Two days after the broadcast, the victim attempted suicide. Paper Bird points out that self-immolations carry particular significance in Egypt as the Arab Spring revolution was instigated by Tunisian street vendor Mohamed Bouazizi setting fire to himself to protest the governmental bureaucracies that destroyed his livelihood. Read more: http://www.towleroad. com/#ixzz3S0oALiyk
Federal judge orders Ala. county to issue marriage licenses On Feb. 12, United States District Judge Callie V. S. Granade instructed Mobile County Probate Judge Don Davis to begin issuing marriage licenses to samesex couples. The order followed a hearing in which four same-sex couples, who were unable to obtain marriage licenses in Mobile on Feb. 9 when marriage equality went into effect in the state, asked Judge Granade to instruct Judge Davis to begin issuing marriage licenses. The order requires Judge Davis to begin issuing licenses immediately. The Alabama couples are James Strawser and John Humphrey, who previously obtained a ruling from Judge Granade declaring that Alabama’s exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage is unconstitutional, Meredith Miller and Anna Lisa Carmichael, Robert Povilat and Milton Persinger, and Kristy Simmons and Marshay Safford. The couples are represented by the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), the ACLU of Alabama, and Birmingham attorney Heather Fann, and the ACLU of Alabama. Said NCLR Legal Director Shannon Minter: “Today’s ruling by Judge Granade provides clear direction to Judge Davis and other probate judges and will help
James Strawser and John Humphrey
ensure that all same-sex couples in Alabama, regardless of whether they live, have the freedom to marry.” Added Randall Marshall, Legal Director of the ACLU of Alabama: “Judge Granade’s ruling confirms that the U.S. Constitution requires Alabama probate judges to issue marriage licenses to all qualified couples, gay and straight. We hope state and local officials will recognize that their first obligation is to comply with our federal Constitution and will move quickly to follow the court’s ruling so that all couples in Alabama will be able to share in the dignity and protection that marriage provides.” In January, Judge Granade held that Alabama’s laws excluding same-sex couples from marriage are unconstitutional and may no longer be enforced. Judge Granade’s order was set to go into effect on Feb. 9, permitting same-sex couples across the state to marry. While some Alabama counties began
issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couple on that day, others — including Mobile County — did not, citing an “administrative order” by Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore, instructing probate judges not to comply with Judge Granade’s order. On Feb. 12, Judge Granade ruled that Mobile County must issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
Trans woman of color killed in New Orleans The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) has learned of the homicide of Penny Proud, a transgender woman of color, in New Orleans, Louisiana. According to local NCAVP member organization BreakOUT, Penny Proud has been misgendered by the media in an article, which indicates that she was shot to death at around 1:30 a.m. on Feb. 10 near the intersection of Ursulines Avenue
MARCH 2015 • NUMBER 487 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET and North Claiborne Avenue in Treme. In BreakOUT’s release they include the following request, which NCAVP echoes: “We are calling on the media to respect all transgender people and their families by using the correct pronouns and names for transgender victims and use current photographs to allow our community to maintain dignity both in life and in death.” Lamia Beard was found shot to death on Jan. 17 in Norfolk, Virginia. Ty Underwood was found shot to death early on Jan. 26, after a woman called 911 to say a car had hit a telephone pole and that her children had heard gunshots. Her loved ones are speaking out, saying that they believe this was a hate crime. Yazmin Vash Payne was discovered fatally stabbed to death on Saturday, Jan. 31 at the scene of a house fire in the Van Nuys district of Los Angeles. Payne’s boyfriend, Ezekiel Dear, has been arrested
and booked for suspicion of murder in connection with her death. Taja Gabrielle de Jesus was discovered stabbed to death on a stairwell in San Francisco’s Bayview District on Sunday, Feb. 1. There is potentially a sixth homicide that NCAVP is tracking, an individual with the last name Edwards. At this time NCAVP does not have enough information with which to conclude how the individual with the last name Edwards identified, however the group continues to track this homicide. In 2014, NCAVP responded to the deaths of 12 transgender women of color. “2015 has begun in absolute tragedy, with the loss of four black transgender women and one Latina transgender woman,” said Chai Jindasurat, Co-Director of Community Organizing and Public Advocacy at the New York City Anti Violence Project. “We all must take immedi( Trans woman continue page 14)
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NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ( Trans woman from page 13) ate action by supporting the leadership of transgender women of color, public awareness and respect campaigns, speaking out against this violence, and protecting transgender people from harassment and discrimination. This is an epidemic and an outrage, and we all have to commit as a nation to ending this violence.” The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs’ (NCAVP) most recent hate violence report, Hate Violence Against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and HIV-Affected Communities in the United States in 2013, documented 18 anti-LGBTQ homicides in 2013. Of those homicide victims, almost 90 percent were people of color. Almost three-quarters (72 percent) of homicide victims were transgender women, and more than two-thirds (67 percent) were transgender women of color. NCAVP is working with BreakOUT to support the local communities affected by this violence. “In our 2014 report, We Deserve Better, BreakOUT! found that 84 percent of transgender people reported experiencing police profiling on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation in New Orleans, with 57 percent reporting being harassed during the encounter. Further, 42 percent of LGBTQ people of color reported calling the police for help and being arrested themselves, compared with zero percent of white respondents,” said Milan Nicole-Sherry, organizer at BreakOUT. “Transgender women of color need to feel safe in our communities. Instead of more police, we need more investment in education, jobs, and housing for LGBTQ people, particularly Black transgender young women.” NCAVP is a resource for anyone who experiences violence. For more informa-
THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 487 • MARCH 2015 tion, or to locate an anti-violence program in your area, please contact info@ncavp. org or visit us online. To learn more about national advocacy and receive technical assistance or support, contact info@ ncavp.org.
Chile won’t defend marriage ban at Human Rights court The Chilean government has announced it will not defend its ban on same-sex marriage following a lawsuit brought against the state by marriage equality advocates and presented to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, The Washington Blade reports: Members of President Michelle Bachelet’s administration on Feb. 17 met with representatives of the Movement for Homosexual Integration and Liberation, an LGBT advocacy group, in Santiago, the Chilean capital, to finalize “an amicable settlement” in the case filed in 2012 on behalf of three same-sex couples who are seeking marriage rights in the South American country. The Movement for Homosexual Integration and Liberation in a press release it posted to its website said the government’s decision to end opposition to nuptials for gays and lesbians in the Inter-American Court of Human Rights case is part of a broader agreement that includes the introduction of a same-sex marriage bill in the Chilean Congress. “We left the meeting very satisfied,” said the Movement for Homosexual Integration and Liberation. “We appreciate the government’s good disposition towards our proposals and principles, which stress that marriage equality is a human rights issue.” Last month, Chile’s Senate passed a bill that would allow same-sex couples in Chile to enter into same-sex unions. President Bachelet has said she will sign that bill. Still, advocates for full mar-
Gay submariner, partner are first same sex couple chosen for ceremonial homecoming kiss Via NBC San Diego: A San Diego man and his partner were the first male same-sex couple to be chosen for the ceremonial first kiss during the homecoming of submarine warship USS San Francisco. The fast-attack submarine reunited with its home port at Naval Base Point Loma on Feb. 9 while families lined the dock awaiting the arrival of husbands, sons, dads and brothers returning from a seven-month stint in the Western Pacific. Thomas Sawicki and his boyfriend Shawn Brier were the lucky couple chosen to share the first kiss off the ship. “Everyone was cheering for me when they announced it over email,” Sawicki said. “Everyone was very excited, very supportive, very happy.” ■
riage equality vow to continue their fight despite this new legislation. It remains unclear when the Bachelet administration and the Movement for Homosexual Integration and Liberation will formally introduce the same-sex marriage bill in the Chilean Congress. [Hunter T. Carter, a New York-based lawyer who represents the Movement for Homosexual Integration and Liberation
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in the Inter-American Court on Human Rights case] told the Blade the lawsuit before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights will move forward in spite of the Chilean government’s new position. “We’re going to continue the fight,” he said. “We are not going to drop the case until marriage is enacted in Chile.” Read more: http://www.towleroad. com/#ixzz3S7lQtVWm ■
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Sue Cowell Community Recognition Event Saturday May 2, 2015 Cocktail Reception
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Sue’s service to this community has been unparalleled. It is time to honor and celebrate her many achievements.
WE ARE SEEKING photos, clippings and memorabilia for a “This is Your Life” book. Drop items at the Gay Alliance or email digital images to annet@gayalliance.org by April 15. Send pictures or stories about: Wilmer & Harper Streets • 1993 March on Washington • AIDS Rochester • AIDS Memorial Garden • Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley • MOCHA • Delegate to the National Democratic Committee • U of R Health Services • County Health Department • AIDS Testing • Black Rose Productions • Women Against Violence Against Women • Take Back the Night Marches • Political Campaigns including Tim Mains, Bill Pritchard, Matt Haag, Louise Slaughter • Upstate NY ESPA • ACE Mailing • President of the Gay Alliance Board • Executive Director of the Gay Alliance • Trillium Health • Rochester Area Task Force on AIDS • HPA • Women’s Softball • Image OUT • and more…
MARCH 2015 • NUMBER 487 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET
Opinion Murders of trans women of color represent a national crisis The Trans* Activists for Justice and Accountability Coalition (“TAJA”) is united in anger and outrage over the murder of Taja DeJesus. TAJA’s Coalition includes leadership from: TGI Justice Project, El/La Para Translatinas, Trans March, Community United Against Violence, Transgender Law Center, St. James Infirmary, The SF LGBT Center, Trans Employment Program (TEEI), TRANS:THRIVE, Dimensions Clinic, Center of Excellence for Transgender Health, and Trans Life at the SF AIDS Foundation. Taja DeJesus was stabbed to death on the streets of San Francisco’s Bayview neighborhood on Feb. 1. Taja was only 36 years old and friends and family describe her as a sweet, light-hearted and caring woman with a passion for music and a love for fashion. She was deeply involved in her community and her faith, volunteered at her local food bank, always had a smile and a story to share and constantly lit up a room. Taja was close to her family in San Jose and found acceptance and community in San Francisco. She remained positive and resilient in the face of many struggles and was relentless in pursuing her wellness. Taja is the fourth known trans* woman of color to be violently murdered in California in the last five months and possibly the ninth to be violently murdered in the United States in 2015. We recognize this epidemic of violence as being deeply rooted in systemic racism, trans* misogyny, class inequity, and lack of access to affordable housing for trans* communities. This
Taja DeJesus
is a national crisis in which the most vulnerable members of our community are fighting for their lives. In Taja’s memory, we will not relent in demanding justice. Our communities are chronically underserved, over-policed and criminalized, and subject to violence at every turn. Trans* women of color are up to seven times more likely to feel unsafe in their daily lives than cisgender people, and experience pervasive safety concerns about where to live, socialize, and receive basic services according to a just-released LGBTQ Violence Prevention Needs Assessment compiled by the SF LGBT Center and the San Francisco Human Rights Commission – a full report was released Tuesday, Feb. 10. A call to action was issued for Trans* Liberation on Feb. 10 to demand an end to the systemic violence targeting trans* communities. TAJA’s Coalition issued the following
demands in advance of the action: 1. We demand that cisgender people end violence against trans* communities, and particularly transgender women of color. Transphobia and violence against trans* people is not a trans* problem. It is a problem rooted in and created by cisgender people, and there is a call to see active support of and participation in local and national efforts to create resources, access and justice for our trans* communities. 2. Trans* communities need safety and access to resources, not jails. We demand that all plans for a new jail in San Francisco be ceased, and that no new jail construction is included in any City planning or budget with funds being routed instead to trans* community programming, especially re-entry support and anti-violence work, with respect for the depth of work not the quantity. 3. We demand safe, affordable, and accessible housing for trans people. The rising cost of living in San Francisco, fueled by municipal protections for corporate interests at the expense of our most vulnerable residents, has forced countless trans* people into unsafe living situations. Additionally, the massive gentrification of the Mission, Tenderloin, and SOMA neighborhoods in the past two years has displaced countless residents. San Francisco must shift its priorities away from protecting corporations and toward providing affordable housing for all who need it and particularly creating affordable housing services, safe housing programs and more safe spaces for trans* people.
Inclusion anyone? By Taieja Cook Life as a Black lesbian in Rochester, who also happens to be in her twenties, isn’t ideal. I suffer from multiple mental health disorders including depression and anxiety. Although these facts aren’t always interlinking, the truth is, they impact one another deeply. Since moving back to Rochester, I
15 have been in search of LGBTQ community and events that consisted of more than drinking, dancing, middle-aged couples, and youth focused on sexual prowess. I craved a place where being a triple or quadruple minority was not just welcomed, but encouraged. A place where one of my identities did not overshadowed the next, but also, where those identities did not compete for recognition. I am equal parts black, gay, woman, and mentally ill. Unfortunately, finding a space to be all four simultaneously is difficult here. I have been searching, for groups, for meetings, for events, where I did not have to be one or the other to be included and there is no such space. Or maybe I’m not looking hard enough? I have to wonder though, how hard must I look, to find a group of people with shared experiences? I know there must be a place, in Rochester, where this exists. So with that I must ask, “Where’s my space in 2015”? Not necessarily a more physical space but a more inclusive space. Where is the space for LGBTQIA of color? Where is the space for youth questioning their sexualities, their genders, their relationships? Where is the space for disabled LGBTQIA people? Where is the space for LGBTQIA immigrants? What spaces exist without the intent to pursue sex or sexual relations? Where are the spaces where we feel safe to discuss the hard topics, such as domestic violence, racism, ableism, religion, discrimination, health, mental disorders, and disabilities within the LGBTQIA communities? Where are non-binary gender queer people spaces? Where are the Trans POC spaces? Where are our community spaces? I want to believe this city has more to offer. I want to believe this community has more to offer. However, I can’t linger on optimism. If the past triumphs of oppressed people could teach us anything in 2015, it’s that community and togetherness will accomplish more. So in 2015, is this structure set to change? ■
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THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 487 • MARCH 2015
Health (A) NEW FRENCH STUDY REPORTS THAT ANY IMMUNE RECOVERY BENEFITS GAINED BY STARTING ANTIRETROVIRAL MEDICATIONS MAY BE LOST IF TREATMENT IS LATER INTERRUPTED
Early HIV treatment benefits may be lost if treatment interrupted By Jacob Anderson-Minshall on The Advocate One of the goals of HIV service providers is to connect patients with care as quickly as possible, especially since early treatment has been shown to provide long-term advantages. But a new French study reports that any immune recovery benefits gained by starting antiretroviral medications may be lost if treatment is later interrupted. In fact, the study found little or no difference (in terms of immune reconstitution) between those who had started treatment immediately and later stopped for a time and those who didn’t start treatment until their CD4 counts fell below a certain figure. The findings, published in the journal AIDS, suggest that only combining early treatment with continuous lifetime adherence gives patients the best hope of reaching a near-normal CD4 to CD8 ratio. CD4 cells, also known as “T-helper” cells, play a key role
in launching the body’s immune response to an infection. In contrast, CD8 cells, or “T-suppressor” cells help kill off infected cells. Healthy HIV-negative people tend to have more CD4s than CD8s, meaning their CD4 to CD8 ratio is greater than 1.0; but those with HIV typically have ratios below 1.0. The study looked at HIVpositive people who were part of the PRIMO cohort study and were receiving treatment at the time. The patients in the study fell into three groups: Thirty-four percent (244 individuals) started treatment within two months after infection. More than half of those had only one treatment interruption while 47 percent experienced more than one interruption. Thirty percent (218 people) did not start taking antiretroviral medications until an average of about two and a half years after infection. Thirty-six percent (265 people) started treatment shortly after contracting HIV and remained on ARV treatment continuously. The study found that those who began ARV treatment quickly and remained on it continuously had an average CD4 count of 731 cells: 125 cells higher than those in the deferred
treatment group and 106 cells higher than those who started treatment early only to interrupt it later. Those who received early care and did not stop taking ARV medications also had higher CD4 to CD8 ratios than those in either of the two other groups. A full 64 percent of the early and continuously treated patients achieved a ratio greater than 1.0, compared with just 40 percent in the deferred group and 36 percent in the treatment interruption group. These results were true even after controlling for things like treatment duration, sex, and age. AIDSMap reports, “While most people prescribed ART eventually develop a near-normal CD4 count, only those who started treatment soon after infection, who have continued it ever since and remained undetectable stand a more-than-even chance of achieving an immune system where the balance of T-lymphocytes resembles that of a person without HIV in terms of their CD4:CD8 ratio.” The study’s researchers conclude, “Our results underline the critical need in early-treated patients to maintain adherence, in order to limit cumulative HIV viremia [presence of the virus in the blood] and optimize immunological recovery, notably the CD4+/CD8+ ratio.” But this does not mean that there is no point in starting treatment early, or in returning to treatment after a gap in adherence. While continuous treatment is better, this study’s findings reiterate that antiretroviral treatment is critical to achieving a healthy immune system when poz.
Learn about healthy kidneys at SAGE meeting on March 24 “Your Kidneys and You,” a presentation by Reba Silterra, RDN, CDE, will take place at the Rainbow Sage Brown Bag Lunch on Tuesday, March 24 from 12:30–1 p.m. at Open Arms Community Center, 707 E. Main St. Do you know what your kidneys do every day to keep you healthy? Do you know that one in three Americans is at risk for developing kidney disease? Now is the time to learn more and find out if you are at risk. The National Kidney Foundation’s new Your Kidneys &
You program was developed to raise awareness among the general public and individuals at risk for kidney disease by educating them about kidneys, risk factors for kidney disease, and how to protect your kidneys. For more information or to RSVP: Elissa Rowley, 585.598.3963 ext. 31; Elissa. rowley@kidney.org
National online support for cancer survivors starts this month The National LGBT Cancer Network has announced the launch of online support forums for LGBTQ cancer survivors. Three new groups will be starting in March 2015: Gay and Bisexual Men (NEW!); Lesbian and Bisexual Women and Transgender People. The forums are open to individuals worldwide who are dealing with a cancer diagnosis. The groups are available 24/7 and are moderated by an LCSW. Topics for discussion include coming out to providers; relationships and sexuality after cancer; the “feminization” of breast cancer and many more. To register for the groups or to get more information, please go to: http://cancer-network.org/ support_groups_for_survivors/
URMC hosts April conference on LGBT elder health URMC will host LGBT Health and Healthcare Across the Generations on Friday, April 25, from 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. The morning keynote speaker is Harvey Makadon from Fenway in Boston. There will also be talks on elder healthcare and related topics. To register, go to grace_fuller@urmc.rochester.edu.
HIV treatment said to inactivate virus in monkeys, prevent infection By Joe Morgan on gaystarnews. com An HIV trial in monkeys is being pronounced a huge success, after it inactivated all strains of the virus and also prevented infection. Researchers developed a protein-based treatment, when given to monkeys, worked as a
“vaccine” for the simian version of HIV - SHIV. It found the protein, known as eCD4-Ig, when it enters the body, means that HIV cannot enter the immune cells and actually becomes inert. In a paper published in the journal Nature, the team of researchers the technique can “function like an effective HIV-1 vaccine.” With the protein structures protecting the targeted white blood cells, researchers set out to engineer an antibody-like molecule that would mimic both of the proteins - acting like a decoy for the virus. So instead of latching onto a cell that could do some damage, HIV would latch onto the specially enhanced protein molecule. The next challenge was encouraging the cells of test animals to produce the protein on their own. They genetically altered an adeno-associated virus, or AAV, which infects humans and other primates but does not cause illness, in a way that would instruct it to produce the enhanced protein. Once inside the monkeys, it worked, even against repeat injections of SHIV. “Although there are remaining challenges, these observations suggest that AAV-expressed eCD4-Ig could provide effective, long-term and near universal protection from HIV-1,” the authors concluded. But while this is potentially exciting, HIV charities have urged caution. Dr. Shaun Griffin, director of external affairs at Terrence Higgins Trust, said, “This is an exciting new approach, but until the vaccine has been trialled in humans, there’s no way of knowing how effective it will be. “Although this vaccine was found to be effective in monkeys, HIV is an incredibly complex virus, with many different facets that we are still learning about. “While there’s still no cure or vaccine, prevention is the only way of protecting yourself so we encourage people to use condoms and get tested regularly, particularly if you’re in a group at increased risk.” - See more at: http://www. gaystarnews.com/article/ hiv-vaccine-inactivates-allvirus-strains-monkeys-prevents-infections180215#sthash. avCg0UA2.dpuf ■
MARCH 2015 • NUMBER 487 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET
LGBTQ Living
Photos by Eva Weiss
Idiosyncratic Fashionistas By Valerie and Jean We have been style blogging under the name Idiosyncratic Fashionistas for the past six years. We are women of a certain age. Our business card says we are out to set “a bad, bad example for older women everywhere”. We’re actually educated, opinionated and funny, but most people know us because we are still playing dress up. Traveling around all dressed up is the visual version of the secret handshake. Women who dress up find each other. We admire each other in passing on the streets, and avidly seize opportunities to make conversation because we recognize kindred spirits. So it was no great surprise to us when Eva Weiss (resident of NYC but a former Rochestarian) came to our table while we were brunching one weekend, introduced herself, gave us her business card, and asked if she could photograph us. As women of a certain age, we delight in this question, because it is proof positive that youthfulness is not the only quality that attracts the eye. Every age has something unique to offer. We were so happy with the first photograph Eva later emailed us that we took a long leisurely stroll through her web gallery. We liked that so much that we asked her if she would take a few photographs for a project we had in mind. We can’t describe the project as it’s still in the works, but these are some of the results of the day’s work. Eva has a mischievous twinkle in her eye and a waggish tongue in her cheek. She “gets” us. She allowed us to be our own stylists and directors. She showcased us as we are, not as social norms dictate older women are expected to be. We felt comfortable with her as soon as we met. Eva’s specialty is hand-tint-
ing, and the subtle color effects she added to the photographs are marvelous. They have a faintly old-fashioned warmth and charm. (Editor: Unfortunately, they don’t come over too well in
newsprint, so these are not the tinted photos.) Our mothers told us not to talk to strangers. Think what we would have missed out on had we followed our mothers’ advice. ■
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Shoulders to Stand On Shoulders to Stand On: A Community’s Response To AIDS By Evelyn Bailey Over the next few months, Shoulders To Stand On will go back in Rochester’s history before AIDS. Shoulders will look at the beginning of the LGBT community’s immersion in what continues to be a growing global epidemic. The Shoulders to Stand On documentary documented the “tip of the iceberg” of this community’s response to AIDS. Thirteen minutes and nine seconds could not possibly include all of the contributions the Rochester community – gay and straight – made to create hope and bring new life to so many relatives, friends and people we knew in passing – all victims of this “plague”. Pride, pain, hope and celebration are all a part of the story. Shoulders invites you to listen to the story that brought the Rochester community back to life. The story of the discovery and identification of AIDS, as it would be named in 1981, begins here in Rochester with a young doctor trained at the University of Rochester School of Medicine. Dr. Michael Gottlieb came to the U of R in the fall of 1969, just after Stonewall
in June. He graduated from the U of R School of Medicine in 1973, the year the Gay Liberation Front left the University of Rochester campus, and he trained in internal medicine at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester. Following a fellowship in immunology at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, in 1980 Gottlieb accepted an assistant professor of medicine position at the UCLA School of Medicine in Los Angeles. In 1981, Dr. Gottlieb, then a 33 year-old assistant professor specializing in immunology at the UCLA Medical Center, asked one of his immunology fellows to look for an interesting “teaching cases.” The fellow presented Gottlieb with a young gay man with unexplained fevers, dramatic weight loss, and a severely damaged immune system. Gottlieb later described a process of reasoning that led him to conclude that this patient was suffering from some syndrome that had not previously been reported. Additional blood tests confirmed a marked deficiency of T-lymphocyte numbers and functions, and that the T-cells bearing the surface marker CD4, the “helper” cells, were virtually absent. Soon thereafter, Gottlieb heard about two patients of Joel Weisman. Weisman and his partner were gay physicians with a largely gay practice. Both patients had
Learn the history of the LGBT community in Rochester... ...from the people who made that history. The Gay Alliance invites you to celebrate 40 years of LGBT history in Rochester with your very own DVD/BluRay of this powerful film. Shoulders To Stand On Evelyn Bailey, Executive Producer Kevin Indovino, Producer/Director/Writer Standard DVD $25 / BluRay DVD $30 Order at: www.GayAlliance.org
chronic fevers, swollen lymph nodes, diarrhea, and thrush. T-cells of Weisman’s patients had the same abnormality as his original patient. Over the next several months, both were diagnosed with Pneumocystis carinii, and the DNA virus cytomegalovirus (CMV). The fourth case came to Gottlieb through a former student, Wayne Shandera, who had become the CDC’s Epidemic Control Officer in Los Angeles. Gottlieb told him that there was a new disease in gay men that seemed to have something to do with CMV and pneumocystis pneumonia and asked Shandera to see what he could find out. Shandera had a report sitting on his desk about a man in Santa Monica who had been diagnosed with pneumocystis pneumonia. The patient died soon after Shandera visited him; on autopsy, CMV was found in his lungs. A fifth case came from a Beverly Hills internist. This patient too had Pneumocystis carinii and CMV. Several of these patients went on to develop Kaposi’s sarcoma, a rare skin cancer sometimes found in older men or immunosuppressed kidney transplant recipients. Gottlieb was excited to think he might have made a significant discovery. He telephoned Arnold Relman, the editor of the New England Journal of Medicine, and declared that he had a story that was “possibly a bigger story than Legionnaire’s disease.” When Gottlieb described his patients suffering from this complicated new malady, Relman advised that, because publication in the New England Journal would take a minimum of three months, Gottlieb should first submit a brief article to the CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, June 5, 1981. This would serve the dual function of alerting public health officials and physicians to the new disease and also stake Gottlieb’s claim to be its “discoverer.” A longer and more detailed account could then be submitted to the New England Journal, December, 1981. The New England Journal paper included the first description of the CD-4 T cell deficiency which is the immunologic hallmark of HIV infection. The rather terse announcement by the CDC was generally overlooked until a few weeks later Dr Alvin Friedman-Kien of the New York University Medical Center published a description of twenty-six cases of Karposi’s sarcoma in gay men in New York and California. Here in Rochester, in June, 1981, Dr. Bill Valenti, also trained at the University of Rochester School of Medicine, first heard about AIDS and soon began to see similar symptoms in the patients he saw at Center for Infectious Disease at the U of R. The work of Gottlieb and others suggested that these patients had an acquired immunodeficiency, characterized by depressed T-lymphocyte numbers and function, allowing for potentially fatal opportunistic infections. Initially, the researchers termed the disease Gay-Related Immune Deficiency (GRID); in 1982 this syndrome became known as AIDS, a consequence of infection by Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Dr. Michael Gottlieb credits this amazing piece of “detective” work to his training at the U of R School of Medicine, where he was taught the biopsychosocial approach to medicine pioneered at the University of Rochester by Drs. John Romano and George Engel. The biopsychosocial approach emphasizes patient-physician communication and patient-centered interviews, as well as the central values of professionalism, selfawareness, humanism, compassion, honesty, and integrity. It is this approach that provided the framework for making the connections in the discovery of what we now call AIDS. In an interview with Nelson Vergel, from the Body.com, June 2, 2011, Dr. Michael Gottlieb said, “The association of HIV with the gay population is kind of an accident of nature and sociologic history. In other words, HIV did not start
21 in the gay population and probably was in the United States well before we came upon it in 1981. And I think the virus got introduced [to the wider population] around the time of gay liberation in the ‘70s and ‘80s, when people were having sex with a lot of different partners. … I have to say that the perception that HIV/ AIDS was a gay disease has hung on in the public mind. Of course, the reality is that a tiny percentage of the 33 million people worldwide who have HIV are homosexual. There’s clear evidence, scientific evidence, that it did not start among gay people. The continued stereotyping of the disease leads people to think that it’s someone else’s problem, that they are somehow isolated from HIV, or immune from contracting it; and it really contributes to public apathy, which is rampant these days.” Rochester, NY was in the forefront of the social, medical, religious and educational response to AIDS. The year 1981 will forever be remembered by hundreds of men and women as the year in which AIDS was identified officially by Dr. Michael Gottlieb, a graduate of the University of Rochester School of Medicine. As the year Dr. Bill Valenti heard about and began to see the disease in Rochester. As the year Rochester, NY began to see the effects of this disease on people’s lives. It is not a coincidence that Dr. Gottlieb and Dr. Valenti were trained at the University of Rochester. Shoulders will explore the connections their parallel paths 3000 miles apart took. Shoulders will tell the story of the historically significant events and people whose shoulders have brought us to March 2015 in our fight against this disease. Shoulders to Stand On heralds Dr. Michael Gottlieb as one of the “Shoulders of Giants” we stand on. Shoulders To Stand On is proud and grateful for the contributions Dr. Gottlieb, Dr. Valenti, the University of Rochester and many others have made to the LGBT and Greater Rochester community journey from “Death to Life”! ■
History Corner: March 1975 A Monthly Newspaper of The Gay Brotherhood of Rochester, NY, 713 Monroe Avenue, Room 4, Rochester, N Y l460; (716) 244-8640 March, 1975 NO 48. IN THIS ISSUE: “Full Rights for Gays” says area college president pg.1; 9 Area Gays attend NYSCGO Conference in NYC pg.1 National Gay Task Force founder Howard Brown Dies pg.1; Gay Brotherhood Budget 1975 – 76 Announced pg. 1; R.C.C. Pastor Installed Amidst Controversy pg. 1; Lobbying Day In Albany pg. 2; Mardi Gras Costume Party at Jim’s pg.4; Gays As Teachers pg.6; McVittie Asserts Rights of Homosexuals pg.7. Do you want to read this issue of the Empty Closet? Here is the link: http://www.lib.rochester.edu/index.cfm?page=4800. On that page click on: Browse the Empty Closet issues. Go to 1975 – March. Calendar of Events Gay Brotherhood Meeting SUN. 2 MARCH: COFFEE HOUSE SUN. 9 MARCH: SEMINAR ON GAY RELATIONSHIPS SUN. 16 MARCH: CABIN PARTY (ELLISON PARK) SUN. 25 MARCH: BUSINESS MEETING SUN. 30 MARCH: EASTER SUNDAY (office open but no office programming or business scheduled) OTHER EVENTS: Sat. 8 March GAY DANCE, Brockport State CollegeBallroom, Seymour College Union $1 NYSCGO Benefit Dinner, Bachelor Forum,8 PM $5/plate Tues.11 March LOBBYING DAY in ALBANY - 244-8640 for details. Thurs.13 March Gay Task Force 7:30 PM 713 Monroe Ave. (GBR office) Tues. 18 March Coordinating Council meeting. ■
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Columnists The opinions of columnists, editorial writers and other contributing writers are their own and do not necessarily reflect the collective attitude of the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley or The Empty Closet.
Growing Up SOLITAIRE, FACEBOOK, PORN By Eric Bellmann For a stay-athome, that’s the trifecta for getting through winter. And not necessarily in that order. Depends on the day. On my old computer I had a fantastic solitaire game. You played to beat the clock. The bottom line was to never quit. Some games ended in two or three minutes, others I struggled with for upwards of an hour. The goal was to play fast to lower the averaged total. But when I replaced my computer, the techno wizard, who transferred everything, lost that version of solitaire. Do you know how many kind of solitaire there are? Better to count the stars in the sky. I could never find that exact game. There are others, so I play, but not with the vigor I once had. Facebook. Ho hum. I don’t have a smart phone so I only post photographs I take from my camera. Very limiting. On the other hand, pictures from holidays in New York -- Halloween especially, but also the Polar Bear Plunge at Coney Island, or sometimes just random street stuff -- do seem to please people. Mostly I forward animal videos. No one knows how many cat videos there are. It’s an endless stream. I also like to “like” other people’s posts. Kind of like a wave hello or a pat on the back. I want to be encouraging. And birthdays, of course, take on a new dimension once one is on FB. This year I made a list of exactly who sent me greetings. Which leads us to porn. A character in “Boys In The Band” observed that, when masturbating, at least, “...you don’t have to look your best.” You can watch porn unshaven, in sweats or a mu mu, for that matter, it’s always there, ready and waiting. And it isn’t a dirty little secret anymore. The most recent time I upgraded my computer, a few months ago, I explained to the current tech wizard that he needn’t explain all the intricacies of my Mac, spread sheets and such, because I only used it for email, Facebook, and porn. “Like everyone else,” he commented. That was sweet. It dampened down any twinges of shame I harbored. Needless to say I have lots of observations about porn. I figure every third person in California is in the business. So many people and all kind of the same: buffed, bland, mechanical. It’s the amateur stuff that’s fascinating. Seems like every college kid has posted a video of himself jacking off. Can anyone explain this to me? And they all go to the gym and clearly work very hard – great bodies. I’ve known three men who’ve done porn. Centuries ago I had an actor friend in New York. We planned for me to sublet his Sullivan Street apartment one summer while he would be on tour and I’d be doing post-graduate work at Pratt. Visiting him one evening he said his current boyfriend would be stopping by. Lo and behold it turned out to be Calvin Culver, as he was then known. Sweet kid, very handsome, and at that time an aspiring legitimate actor with a lucky break: standing behind Ingrid Bergman in “Mrs. Warren’s Profession.” He seemed very happy with that opportunity. He seemed an agreeable sort.
Calvin, of course, became Casey Donovan. “Boys in The Sand” was one of the first really big gay porn movies and it made him very famous. He was from Canandaigua. Small world. Another acquaintance, Bobby G., was a phys ed major at Brockport, very hot, very nice and briefly a model for my drawings. Eventually he moved to California and worked in porn under some odd name, Neal something-or-other. I saw one film that featured Bobby/Neal and scarily, a cucumber. Bobby, who smiled readily, had big teeth and his friends teased him about them saying he had a rabbit face. In that film, he kept his jaw clenched, no smiling give-away to his sweet nature. Bobby just grinned. Very good-natured guy. Later he told me that his father had molested him repeatedly as an adolescent. That maybe is not uncommon in that profession. The third guy mostly worked locally as an escort. He was open about that. He got one shot at making porn and, odd as it may seem, wrote a lengthy essay about it and since he knew I was a writer, asked me to edit it. Not erotic reading at all. Kind of tedious and filled with weird details. Nothing that would inspire day dreams. About California and porn. Kids at a local college studying photography with ambitions to work in Hollywood in the movies told me that was how you got experience. Lots of porn production all over the state and they needed crews for lighting, cameras, God knows what else. Once upon a time you broke into movies working for Roger Corman and cheesy independent biker flicks. Times change. Back to sexual abuse. After Linda Lovelace , of “Deep Throat” fame, ditched the porn biz, the feminists who came to her rescue emphasized how many of the “performers” had been abused or coerced by family, friends. I think that’s changed. People seem to like being in front of a camera. But then, what do I know? What I do know is that in Rochester you have to do what you have to do to survive winter and if solitaire works, play on. Or Facebook. Whatever. Email: ericlbellmann@gmail.com
Cleaning My Closet SNOW ADVISORY By Meredith Elizabeth Reiniger Walk like a penguin. Not a yoga stance. Not a mating dance. No, it is medical advice to prevent elders from falling. Walk like a penguin is a Public Service Announcement. Because we elders no longer bounce, we must mindfully maintain our upright positions. So when belowfreezing temperatures have turned mud into treacherous mountains, when wily snow has covered dips and ridges with picture-worthy fluff, and when ice masquerades as innocent black patent leather, we elders must boost our own stability. Picture this penguin. Snugly pulleddown dweeby cap, doofus earmuffs, hulking coat, kindergarten mittens, serviceable boots… encapsulating this old lady. Arms extended straight out at my sides. Feet turned outward, I waddled out of my garage. Humiliation in exchange for balance, for a lowered center of gravity, for safe transport of fragile bones. After Linus, a predicted winter storm, had arrived in the dark of night, Tom
swiftly and thoroughly plowed 99 percent of my side-yard tundra. That’s why I had waddled into the elements, the very deep elements. Yes, indeed, I was ready, willing, and able (crucial assets) to shovel the leftover 1 percent. Eagerly (it is, after all, exercise for upper-body strength) I positioned my faithful pusher-scoop. Breathing crisp winter air, watching fascinating birdflights, I PUSHED. And pushed and p-us-h-e-d heavy white crystals away from my garage door. While thus employed, I noted the enormous quantity of snowflakes I was destined to relocate. How much, I wondered, is 18 inches deep times the width of the garage times the span of the unplowed apron. Lots. Exactly 77. Seventy-seven pushes from there to wayover there. I sought the solace of a sizable, seriously-sugared hot cocoa. Re-energized, I headed out the back door. More SNOW to rearrange. For the dog. Faithfully, I shoveled our back porch, four steps, and a short circuit through snow taller than his body plus legs. Methodically I cut out a few turnaroundable indentations for him to use for his personal waste deposits. Another job well done, said cold I. Another hot chocolate reward. Later, I looked out the window. Yes, it was time for one more outing into frigid. After extensive swathing, I made the rounds to do poop scooping, bagging, and dumping. Into my very full trash trolley. Oh no. Oh Wednesday. That meant I had to haul that large, unwieldy, lilac-colored, wheeled cart down to the road. Oh my, that trash transfer is a trying task. Especially in winter. Bravely, I traveled twice from my garage to the far-away road and then back. Each trip required vigilant penguin-ing while taking 163 challenging steps (yes, I counted). First I hauled 1 heavy, trash trolley, then returned, then loaded two over-stuffed recycle bins onto my sled, then dragged it down my driveway, and then made my final walk back home. Total: 652 toddles. (For safety, I, living on county road #10, have established distress signals. I leave my garage door raised so that, in the event that I experience a skull conk into unconsciousness, some person, noticing, might become worried and call 911. In extremely inclement weather, I back the car out of said garage and leave my driver’s door open as another clue: Penguin Down.) Finally, all my outdoor chores completed, I stomped inside, unbundled, and plopped. Cozy on my couch with its soft, purple blanket and warm, red dog, I turned on TV for new bad news and weather guesses. Fire hydrant. Oh that. A local newscaster reminded me that Homeowner-I am responsible for the bright yellow plug in front of my house. Well, My Stars! How on earth had I forgotten that? You’d think my experienced brain would have recalled that I had been doing Hydrant Duty since 2004. Never mind, I decided. I had just scrunched under a second blanket. Was thoroughly defrosted. Alas, responsibility called. And Superstition nagged. “Remember the Fire Fighter’s explanation . . . ‘a fire doubles, DOUBLES, every minute. You, homeowner person, must make the hydrant accessible so that we fearless volunteers can fight your fire, not waste precious time on a Search and Shovel expedition.’” Oh Silly Superstition, get thee gone. It is getting darkish, and surely I can shovelout little hydrant thingy tomorrow. “NOoooo,” warns Superstition. “Heed this prophecy: if you do NOT, as required and sensible, dig around that public safety fixture, there will be an ironic fire at the stroke of midnight.” Got it. I re-wrapped myself for a trek to roadside. I added another layer of protection… pulled my reflective vest over my chocolate-colored, down coat… thus creating a vision of loveliness: a lumbering brown sausage in a chartreuse bun. My mind was racing. Eleven years ago, when I first moved into my house, it was
surrounded by woods inhabited by deer who did not drive. Night was black and silent. (Ah, sweet Mother Nature.) Now there are three, tree-killing, developed properties loaded with people stacked three stories high. People with cars. (Oh dastardly Change, fie on you.) That invasion of my idyllic setting has made walking on the shoulder of the road a lifethreatening, heart-stopping challenge, not a leisurely stroll beneath gigantic willows and bird-dappled tree branches. Consequently, I needed to plan a safe route to my hydrant. Now a word from Reality Checkers (sister, friend, proverbial ex-lover lesbianfriend). DO NOT DO THAT. What about your arthritic back? Your vulnerable sciatic nerve. Your already-troubled shoulders. Your septuagenarian status. Now a quandary from living-with-my-self womyn: what about my independence. I decided to climb plow-hardened piles. I wonder. Was it breath-taking girding that made me choose to plod through snow banks rather than ambulate on a plowed surface? No, it was fear of being named in a headline publicizing a shocking Vehicular Womyn-slaughter: SENIOR CITIZEN SMASHED TO SMITHEREENS. Considering the options, it seemed reasonable to head down into the swale that runs close to my property line. Until gravity tumbled me down the slope into deep, shockingly deep snow. Up to my thighs. Immobilizing me. What to do, what to do, moaned I. How long before one of those not-deer neighbors questions my still-open garage? Will headlights of those otherwise annoying motor vehicles catch the glow of my emergency-colored vest? Apparently frozen legs had cut-off blood circulation to my problem-solving brain cells, for it took severely-buried-me several moments of bafflement to reach Eureka! I have a shovel in my flippers. meredithreiniger@gmail.com
Faith Matters A ROAD MAP BEYOND BLACK HISTORY MONTH By Rev. Irene Monroe Black History Month (which kicked off on Feb. 1) became a national annual observance in 1926. The goal of the month is to honor and celebrate the achievements of AfricanAmericans. If Dr. Carter Woodson, the Father of Black History, were alive today, he would be proud of the tenacity of the African American community. It speaks volumes about our survival here on this American soil, after centuries of slavery, decades of lynching and years of racial profiling. However, for decades now, Black History Month has not broached the topic of the socio-political construction of white privilege. There’s a reason why. During Black History Month in 2009, Attorney General Eric Holder received scathing criticism for his speech on race. His critics said the tone and tenor of the speech was confrontational and accusatory. “Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot,” Holder said, “in things racial we have always been and continue to be, in too many ways, essentially a nation of cowards.” Many communities of color contest that white people—straight or LGBTQ— show no real invested interest in engaging in this country’s needed dialogue on race. While many whites have confessed their aversion to such a dialogue, stating that while a cultural defense of “white guilt” plays a role in their reticence, so too does their cultural fear of “black rage” for inadvertently saying the wrong thing.
MARCH 2015 • NUMBER 487 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET It’s a polemic that has been avoided because of the politics of political correctness as well as how any discussion on race, no matter who’s stirring the conversation—a rabid racist, the president or Attorney General Eric Holder—invariably inflame our emotions more that inform our faculties. Ironically, or tragically, the aversion to a conversation about race not only continues to harm people of color, but it also harms whites. In her recent book “Waking Up White, and Finding Myself in the Story of Race” Cambridge author Debby Irving wrote the following: “I can think of no bigger misstep in American history than the invention and perpetuation of the idea of white superiority. It allows white children to believe they are exceptional and entitled while allowing children of color to believe they are inferior and less deserving….Unless adults understand racism, they will, as I did, unknowingly teach it to their children.” On one hand we have the dominant culture’s continued indelicate dance of white privilege and single-issue platforms which thwart coalition building with communities of color. On the other we have some people of color dismissing the notion that white marginalized and struggling groups (white women, LGBTQ, the poor) may have something to offer communities of color in terms of advice and shared (not same) experiences. Both hands are right. And both hands are wrong. The only way forward is to keep talking about race. But how do we make our way through the current tangle of misguided good intentions and valid suspicions? My answer: past harms need to be redressed. For example, the killing of unarmed black males has awakened the movement. “Black Lives Matter” has taken to the streets. Sadly, civil rights struggles in this country—black, women, and gay—have primarily been understood and demonstrated as tribal and unconnected rather than intersectional and interdependent of each other. But that is a false assumption. When we look at how we moved forward on the issue of same-sex marriage, LGBTQ activists remember that an African-American woman named Mildred Loving set the precedent for marriage equality. Loving gained notoriety when the U.S. Supreme Court decided in her favor that anti-miscegenation laws are unconstitutional. Her crime was this country’s once racial and gender obsession—interracial marriage. Married to a white man, Loving and her husband were indicted by a Virginia grand jury in October 1958 for violating the state’s “Racial Integrity Act of 1924.” For many years I taught a collegelevel course titled “Power and Privilege,” exploring how many of our stereotypes about people whom we perceive as being different invade our lives without much conscious deliberation on our part. Issues
of race, gender, social class, sexual orientation, age and ability, among others, were considered, and how such distinctions often lead to an inequitable distribution of political power, social well-being, and the resources available to individual members of society. On the syllabus I laid out the rules regarding classroom interaction: 1. We will address our colleagues in our classroom by name. 2. We will listen to one another— patiently, carefully—assuming that each one of us is always doing the best that s/ he can. We will speak thoughtfully. We will speak in the first person. 3. Although our disagreements may be vigorous, they will not be conducted in a win-lose manner. We will take care that all participants are given the opportunity to engage in the conversation. 4. We will own our assumptions, our conclusions, and their implications. We will be open to another’s intellectual growth and change. 5. We cannot be blamed for misinformation we have been taught and have absorbed from our U.S. society and culture, but we will be held responsible for repeating misinformation after we have learned otherwise. 6. We each have an obligation to actively combat stereotypes so that we can begin to eradicate the biases which prevent us from envisioning the well being of us all. As we celebrated Black History Month, 2015, in what is clearly not the post-racial era many had hoped for, I wished as a nation we could begin an honest talk about race.
A Few Bricks Short JUST A LITTLE PART-TIME JOB
By David Hull I have been retired for over a year and I thought it might be good to go back to work – just part-time, of course, and just to earn some extra spending money. “You don’t need to work,” grumbled Bernie, but I didn’t listen to my husband (honestly, I usually don’t) and got myself a part-time job at a nearby convenience store called The Quick-Stop Express. You know the type of store I’m talking about. It specializes in nothing, but sells gas, milk, beer, cigarettes, 25 different types of potato chips, lottery tickets, energy drinks, oven cleaner, pre-viewed DVDs, lighters, toilet paper and live bait. Oh, they also make pizza and wings in a small kitchen in the corner. It’s the kind of place you stop at on your way home from work to pick up some item you forgot to get at the grocery store. Now my personal warning signal should have gone off during my interview with the manager, Ashlee (yes, that’s how she spelled her name). She told me that
the most important part of my QuickStop Express uniform was … my smile. Honey, you’re offering me minimum wage – for that price, you can’t afford my smile, I thought. I got the job and a few days later I went to work. I had told Ashlee during my interview that I felt confident about mopping floors, stocking shelves, washing windows and emptying trash. However, I was concerned about my ability on the computerized cash registers because I was definitely not a “tech-savvy” person. “Oh, don’t worry,” Ashlee reassured me. “The company doesn’t care what your religion is.” So I spent my first two days on the job mopping the floors, washing windows and emptying trash while Ashlee supervised me closely. She gave enthusiastic encouragements like “Great job of mopping. I like how you washed that window. You did fantastic emptying the trash.” Ashlee failed to understand that I had been mopping, washing and emptying for the past 50 years – half that time under the critical eye of my husband – so there was no reason to doubt my skills. What I was worried about was using that very complicated looking cash register with the computer screen. Finally, halfway through my second day on the job, I insisted that Ashlee stop monitoring how I was cleaning the coffee station (she said I was doing wonderful, by the way) and give me some training on the cash register. She looked confused. “Oh, okay,” she replied. “But you don’t need to worry. They’re really simple.” Ashlee set me up on a register and showed me how the machine could be switched between three different screens on the monitor – one for gas and groceries, another screen for cigarettes, scratchoffs and lottery tickets and a third screen for pizzas, wings, coffee and newspapers. Then she casually mentioned that she had work to do in her office and walked away. I knew this wasn’t going to go well. My first customer approached me. “Yeah, I need $20 in gas at pump 3,” he said, dropping a $20 bill on the counter. “Welcome to the Quick-Stop Express,” I said smiling. “How can I help you?” The guy shrugged. “Gas. Pump 3,” he repeated. Hey, it wasn’t my fault – he told me how I could help him before I could greet him and ask how to help. This exchange, according to Ashlee, was very important. I have no idea why – I never met a customer who cared. “Okay,” I said, staring at the screen. I was already confused. Why couldn’t he have just ordered pizza? I had opened the screen for that and couldn’t get out of it. A few seconds later I found the screen I needed and punched in the gas purchase. Oops! Instead of $20, I had accidentally charged the guy $200 dollars for gas. I didn’t have any idea how to fix the mistake. “You wouldn’t happen to have an extra $180 dollars on you, would you?” I asked.
23 The guy shook his head. He didn’t think I was funny. I called for help. Ashlee appeared and fixed the problem. “I don’t think you should leave me here without help,” I said. “I really don’t have any idea what I’m doing.” “Oh, don’t worry,” Ashlee said, pointing at the register. “They’re real simple.” So, Ashlee returned to her office (which I later realized was actually her code for “going out back to smoke”) and I turned to face my next customer. A woman put a 2-liter bottle of soda pop, a bag of Chips and a tube of lip balm on the counter. “I’m kind of in a hurry,” she told me. Well, you’re in the wrong place, I thought. I rang up her order, gave her change and bagged her items. Wow! I did it. And then the woman said it. “I’d like five of the Win-For-Life scratch-off tickets too.” “Ashlee!” I called. “I’m never going to get any work done if you keep calling me,” Ashlee told me with attitude. “If I don’t keep calling you,” I snapped back. “This store will never have another successful financial transaction again.” Ashlee decided the best way to handle this situation was to give me one of the store’s walkie-talkies and if I needed her, I could call her. She’d give me any instructions I needed from her office, which, of course, actually meant “out back smoking”. I will admit I wondered why a store that was so small one could practically spit from one end to the other would need walkie-talkies, but I just took mine and waited for my next customer. It didn’t take long. The guy put a six-pack of beer on the counter. “Yeah, I need the beer and a mega-millions lottery ticket.” He handed me a fifty dollar bill. “Put whatever money is left on gas at pump 5.” He had to be kidding me. How did that even work? Dear God, would I have to do math? I grabbed the walkie-talkie and signaled for Ashlee. That’s when I realized that she had left her walkie-talkie on the counter behind me. “Ashlee!” I called. “She’s out back smoking,” another employee called to me. At the end of my shift that day I didn’t have the best feeling about my career at Quick-Stop Express. I don’t think Ashlee was too happy either. As I went out the door and told her “see you tomorrow,” I think I heard her whimper. The next day I showed up for work right on time. I found Ashlee out back smoking … um, I mean, in her office. “Oh, you’re here,” said Ashlee. “The other cashier has to leave for a doctor appointment in 20 minutes and I have to go off-site to a meeting, so you’re going to be in charge of the store this morning.” “Alone? Ashlee nodded. “Yes.” “Is this a joke?” “No,” said Ashlee. “Why?”
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24 “What the hell, Ashlee? You’re going to leave me on my own to run the store and yesterday I charged some guy $200 for gas! I have no idea how to operate the lottery machine. I can’t tell the difference between the supreme pizza, the ultimate pizza or the maximum-loaded pizza – they all look the same to me! And you’re going to leave me in charge of the store? Oh, sure, the floors and windows will be sparkling, but it’ll have to be ‘Free Grocery Day’ for customers until someone shows up who knows how to run the register!” 45 minutes later I was home sitting on the couch with Bernie watching Good Morning, America. “So, did you quit or were you fired?” Bernie asked me. “I’m not sure,” I admitted. “I think it was a mutual decision after I threw my nametag on the floor and stomped on it. Either way, I guess I’m retired again.” “Hopefully for good this time,” replied Bernie. I nodded. “Trust me – no one is more hopeful about that than the customers at the Quick-Stop Express.” Contact David at davidhull59@aol. com
Trans*missions VISIBILITY AND PASSING, RISK AND REWARD By Laine DeLaney It’s coming around to that time of year again: The International Transgender Day of Visibility (March 31). This holiday was originally founded by Michigan-based transgender activist Rachel Crandall, partly as a reaction to the lack of holidays honoring transgender people. As many of us are, she was apparently frustrated that the only holiday we had was one that revolved around our deaths at the hands of violent bigotry (the Transgender Day of Remembrance). I am outspoken about being pro-visibility. Not every trans person is going to pass, and not every transgender person wants to. In addition, there are many non-binary people whose gender identity and expression is such that they will never fit into the dominant gender stereotypes enough to “pass” as anything but their own amazing selves without compromising their identity. I feel, however, that emphasis on passing is dangerous to trans people, and a symptom of a deep current of fear that runs through our society. I have watched trans people live in fear of anyone finding out that they are trans, become brave enough to come out and “transition”, and then go back into hiding, once again living in fear of anyone else ever finding out. I personally feel that that deep-seated fear that so many of our population lives in, pre- and post- transition (and that’s not even considering non-transitioning or gender nonconforming people) can only be effectively fought by being “out”. Letting people know that we are their families, their coworkers, their fellow parishioners, and their neighbors humanizes us and our struggles, and time and time again that has proven to be the best strategy to employ to normalize oppressed populations. However, I’m aware that not everyone has that option. Outing yourself, whether pre-, post-, or non- transition(ing) can be dangerous and deadly to some people. I grew up in a theocratic monarchy where outing oneself would quite literally earn you a death sentence. I’ve seen people lose everything that they value other than their dignity and sense of self when they come out. I’ve felt the siren call of passing. Let me confess, I never came into this expecting it to happen to me, but the
THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 487 • MARCH 2015 times that I’ve been correctly gendered or “ma’am’ed” in public places by complete strangers has blown me out of the water. Whenever it happens I think to myself, “What if it was like this all the time? What if I never had to worry about people mocking me in public for being trans? What if I never had to worry that that part of who I am could provoke people to violence? Could it happen?” It probably could, but it would be better to never have to worry about it because being trans was normalized – that way everyone, passing or not, would be safer. While I will always encourage trans visibility and support it, I understand that not everyone can afford to engage in it. Passing and stealth can be a comfort and a balm to someone who has fought all of their life to be themselves, and it can be very important for personal safety – for those who can participate in it. Those of us who can’t, or can’t all the time, or who will never “pass” as anything but trans because of physical features or a gender identity that rejects binary stereotypes about appearance also need safety. I feel that that safety will only come about when we as a people can let the world see us in our amazing variety and know that we are people like them.
What’s Bothering Brandon? LIVING VIRTUALLY IN THE PHYSICAL REALITY By Brandon W. Brooks Last month we all honored and observed that holiday known as Valentine’s Day – a day marked by my personal annoyance, coupled with
public ambivalence. We were also spectacularly gifted with the presence of not one, but several, snow storms that rocked even our ever-inured winter sentiments. Hopefully with March upon us we will be provided with less of a daily challenge. Something that I do not anticipate leaving us, however, is our addiction to social media. I find it somewhat ironic, and even cruel, that we have all decided to name these media outlets (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube) as being social in nature and purpose. I say “ironic” and “cruel” in reference to how our usage of these services actually works against our abilities to form true and authentic, attentive and participatory social exchanges between people. Let the whining commence. We have all been in the situation where we have met our friend, family member or significant other for a social call, a meal or even a holiday like Valentine’s Day, only to be greeted with behaviors that would indicate a lack of commitment to this meeting. These behaviors include the constant scanning of phone and tablet screens instead of concentrating on the present, physical existence of those in our immediate reality. I think most of us can agree, especially those who existed socially before the advent of modern communicative technologies, that these behaviors are rude and disrespectful. They illustrate and indicate to our guests that our attentions are divided, that we may have other (more important or more interesting) commitments, or that we would rather be somewhere or with someone else instead of detained in our current social engagement. If someone dare mention this to the perpetrator, catching them red-handed in the act of texting over the dinner table, we may be met with mixed reactions. Some (again, usually those of a certain age) completely understand the offense committed. Others, almost always younger individuals, may not be
so sympathetic to your case. I often wonder why this is, why younger people cannot grasp that texting while in conversation with someone who is actually in front of you, is entirely rude and noncommittal. Is it because they have grown up in an environment that affords this? Have we truly lapsed in our common social graces to the point where this should be considered part of the new norm, and just tolerated? I say shout an emphatic no, in all caps. Now, I must say, I have been an active participant in the downfall of this generation’s ability to commit socially and presently to those in my immediate vicinity. I have scanned my phone during times of boredom, during times where I would rather be somewhere else, and at family holiday gatherings. I tell myself that I would not be doing anything else of importance at this time anyway, and therefore it is acceptable for me to disengage socially. This not only sends out the nonverbal message that I am not interested in engaging, but that it is acceptable and indeed, normal, for others to disassociate as well. My lack of social commitment permits this behavior in others, perpetuating it. My lack of commitment to social engagements widens the margin for this behavior to be exhibited, acceptably, in others. Now, as much as I’d like to think so, my behaviors alone do not shape the world in which we live. Others are actively disengaging whether or not they have seen me doing so. In this sense we are communicating across vast groups of people the message that connecting superficially to many is more important and impactful than connecting more truly with few. And it is no wonder why and how this message has spread so rapidly and perva-
sively throughout the youth culture when one considers the nature of the products and programs we now use to communicate. Certainly these technologies have allowed us the opportunity to reconnect and re-establish our relationships with those we have lost over the ages. But there is a cost to this, like most gifts, in that we lose the quality of our relationships when we try and increase our quantities of relationships. The use of this technology is so pervasive that it has influenced the ways in which we educate young children – we don’t even teach handwriting in schools any longer. I can’t tell you how many times I have cringed when a young something does not know the difference between printing and writing. Even when considering typing itself, most millennials lack a grasp of how to do this correctly, notably due to the use of the thumb over the fingers on modern typing devices. Nowadays it’s more word-of-thumb over word-of-mouth. Despite my penchant for withdrawal in situations or around people with whom I cannot or do not want to identify, I will try to avoid this for the greater good. I will live by example, behaving in a way that I would like to see others behave. When I am with my friends, I will make an active attempt to put down my phone and turn my face towards their’s, establish eye contact, and maintain it. I fear our abilities to carry out active, extensive conversations that have more to do with ideas, rather than trivial events or people, has atrophied. We must exercise our in-person communicative skills lest we lose them entirely. A face trumps a screen any day. Questions, comment or critique? Feel free to e-mail the author at: brandonbrooks@mail.adelphi.edu ■
MARCH 2015 • NUMBER 487 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET
Community Find the friends, fun, and common interests you’re looking for through the various groups listed here.
DIGNITY-INTEGRITY Since March 1975, Dignity-Integrity Rochester has been welcoming all who come through our doors, worshiping every week at 5 p.m. at St. Luke’s and St. Simon’s Church, 17 S. Fitzhugh St., at the corner of Broad St. We have the following services and activities for the month of March 2015: 1st Sunday: Episcopal Mass/Healing Service, with music 2nd Sunday: Roman Catholic Liturgy of the Word, with music 3rd Sunday: Episcopal Mass, quiet 4th Sunday: Roman Catholic Evening Prayer, followed by a Potluck Dinner! 5th Sunday: Palm Sunday Mass The theme for the March Potluck dinner is “St. Joseph’s Day”. From what I was able to learn, the traditional foods are Italian but meatless, lots of vegetables, pasta and bread. Sounds like a yummy feast, so find your favorite St. Joseph’s day recipe and join us! No time to cook or shop? Don’t worry, there is always enough to share. In fact, tradition has it that when we aren’t cooking up a Potluck supper on the fourth Sunday, we’re gathering for fellowship around a tasty coffee hour and going out to a local restaurant for dinner each Sunday. On page 3 of this issue you’ll find an article on the history of Dignity-Integrity, written by one of our long-standing members. 2015—Our 40th Anniversary! We’re booked for AUGUST 15, 2015 for a FABULOUS 40TH REUNION PICNIC! Volunteers are always welcome to prepare for this big event. We’ve started making lists of all the people we can remember (we’re up to about 250!) and now we need addresses. Please make sure you let us know how to contact you. It would be fantastic to see or hear from as many former members of DI as possible. Send us your current contact information via our email, info@di-rochester.org, or write to us directly at 17 S. Fitzhugh Street, 14614 so we can be sure to send you an invitation! You can call the Hotline at 585-2345092 or check our website at www.dirochester.org/ for updates on services and activities.
EMPIRE BEARS It’s been cold, but the BEARS are out there, going to the movies, concerts, dinner and bowling. We go to supper every Wednesday at 6. March 4 we will be at Jay’s Diner on W. Henrietta. 3/11 will find us at JB Quimby’s on S. Winton. The 18th we’ll go to Carrabba’s on W Henrietta. The 25th we’ll be at The Winfield Grill. If you want to show off your favorite potluck dish, come to the GAGV’s 5th floor offices on Saturday, 3/14. We plan to start early this month to avoid the parking theater crowds. We’ll eat at 6 p.m. Just tell the lot attendant you’re there for a potluck, and fly up to the 5th floor (elevator in main lobby). Some of the Bears are in the “All in the Family” League on Sunday evenings at Empire Lanes. We have fun, even if we’re not winners. Movies at The Cinema are a favorite. It’s value priced, popcorn’s cheap, and the staff is friendly. We get together for cards and games. Camping season is coming soon, so make your reservations. Lots of BEARS will be at Drenched Fur in Erie early in April. Great time in the hotel pool and at the
water park. If these activities sound like fun to you, come on out to meet us. We’d like to meet you.
OPEN ARMS MCC Open Arms MCC is Beyond Opening and Affirming…Beyond Welcoming….A Place for ALL. Our Sunday Morning Celebration Services begin at 10:30 a.m. offering a vibrant, inclusive Progressive Worship experience, blending elements of traditional and contemporary worship styles. Worship may include hymns, prayer, scripture, audio visual, special music and our own Open Arms ensemble. Pastoral Intern Brae Adams always delivers a message that is both scriptural and socially relevant. During our Celebration Service, children are invited to participate in our Children’s Moment before heading off to our Rainbow Rangers (ages 5-12) and Rainbow Sprouts (newborn to five years old) Sunday School Program. Following the service you can join us in our Community Center for some social time. Our Contemporary Praise and Worship Service is held each Sunday at 5:30 pm. Be assured that you will be Accepted, Honored and Loved. This contemporary and interactive service features our live Open Arms Praise Band and Pastoral Intern Sara Campbell leads your worship experience in this electrifying service. Communion is served at both services. Our monthly Agape Supper is held the second Sunday of each month at 5:30 p.m. In this service you experience worship while sharing a meal in fellowship with others. Please bring a dish to share in this intimate worship experience. Remember that Adult Sunday School is at 9 a.m. each week. We will be studying “Living The Questions.” The focus will be on how Christianity still has relevance in the 21st Century. Providing a variety of flexible resources, “Living the Questions” will let seekers and “church alumni/ae” alike discover the significance of Christianity and what a meaningful faith can be in your world today. On Monday evenings Sara Campbell has a weekly book study on the book “From Sin to Amazing Grace: Discovering the Queer Christ” by Patrick S. Cheng. This book reclaims the doctrines of sin and grace for LGBT people and others who have been wounded by such doctrines in the past. This book study group will meet each Monday at 6:30 p.m. at Equal Grounds Coffee House, 750 South Ave. Our Social Justice team continues to support Dwayne’s House in Jamaica. Dwayne’s house is an organization that provides clothing and gives monetary assistance to the homeless LGBTQ youths in Jamaica. Our work continues in Eastern Europe as we fund travel expenses for our pastor emeritus Rev. Jim Mulcahy through our bottle and can collection ministry. Rev. Jim is building churches and teaching our LGBTQ siblings in Eastern Europe about God’s unconditional love. Food donations can be made in our Community Center on Tuesdays or Sundays for our Open Arms Food Bank, which provides food for those in need. Cash donations for our DUO fund (Do Unto Others) are used to assist the people in the Rochester community with urgent housing or medical needs. AFTY, Adult Families with Trans
Youth, meets on the first Tuesday of every month from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Community Center. This is a support group for parents and other family members who want to understand and support what struggles and difficulties their trans child may be having and learn to best treat their child in a loving and accepting way. On Tuesday and Thursday mornings Rainbow Sage gets together with Tom Somerville for Yoga from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., and there is a $5 fee. Thursday evenings at 6 p.m. there is also Yoga with Tom Somerville, this is a mixed level class that welcomes all including beginners. BTW BYO mat (if possible). Cost is $15 per class. PFLAG Parents, Friends, and Family of Lesbians and Gays (and trans and questioning) is a support and activism group for anyone who supports the LGBTQIA community They meet on the third Sunday of each month at 1 p.m. in the Community Center. Open Arms MCC is committed to Building Bridges and Changing Lives and we are the only accepting church in Rochester. We are located at 707 East Main St. almost right across from Delta Sonic. There is plenty of free parking in front to the side of our building. For updated information on these and other exciting upcoming events check out our website at: openarmsmcc. org. Brae Adams has office hours on Mondays from 12 to 2 p.m. and by appointment. You can reach us by phone at (585) 271-8478 and our website is openarmsmcc.org
ROMANS Hopefully the coldest months of this season have come and gone. Members of the Rochester Male Naturists (ROMANS) are looking forward to some nude outdoor activities to be pampered by beautiful sunshine that caresses every inch of the body. Two nude camps are already open for registration: (1) NakedFest in Maryland taking place in June and (2) The Gathering in the Pocono mountains happening in late August - both organized by the Gay Naturists International. These nude camps are very popular and generally attract 400-500 naked gay and gayfriendly men. We usually call this a life changing experience for first timers. Imagine eating, playing and sleeping naked for up to 10 days in a manicured campground with heated swimming pools, pond for kayaking, trails for nature walks, ball games and many other scheduled programs like nightly shows and contests, yoga, body painting, etc. Before the weather gets warmer, there are still a couple of indoor nude swims happening on the first Saturday of March and April. ROMANS’ monthly meeting at a member’s home continues throughout the year and the March meeting will be hosted by a member in the Rochester area.
25 If you are interested in any of the above nude activities, you can check for information that is frequently updated on ROMANS’ website at http://www. wnyromans.com. ROMANS is a social club for gay and gay-friendly male nudists (or naturists) over 21. Currently the club is offering a year of free membership to all full-time students to promote the nude lifestyle among the younger generation. You can contact ROMANS at message line 585-281-4964, by E-mail wnyromans@yahoo.com or via regular mail at PO Box 92293, Rochester, NY 14692.
TRANS ALLIANCE OF GREATER ROCHESTER (TAGR) Saturday, March 14, from 3-5 p.m., is our second Saturday of month Planning Group meeting. So please come with your thoughts and ideas and hear what’s being planned for the next few months and the really exciting things for this year! \Our LAST Saturday of the month meeting is March 28, 3- 5:30 p.m. and is our support group meeting. Our support meetings provide a safe and caring atmosphere so that you can feel free to talk about whatever is going on with you. Our members have all had many of the same questions and fears you may have. We know just how hard it is to ask for help with what you might be going through. Together we can learn how to not just survive as a Trans person, we can learn from each other how to live a rich full life as a Trans person! Yes, it can and is being done. Come to a meeting and find out how you can do it too. As always our family, friends and allies are welcomed and encouraged to join us. On Tuesday, March 31 from 6-8 p.m., to commemorate the International Trans Day of Visibility, we will hold our first ever Open House, which will include an award ceremony to recognize members of the trans and non trans community who have supported us recently and throughout the past years! We meet at the Open Arms Community Center at 707 East Main St., almost across the street from Delta Sonic and there is plenty of parking in front and side of the Open Arms building. Open Arms MCC, which graciously allows us to use their Community Center for our meetings, needs donations for their ongoing food cupboard. Therefore we are asking TAGR meeting attendees to please bring at least one non-perishable food item for donation to our meetings as an ongoing thank you for allowing us to use their space. There will be refreshments and we will be asking for at least a $1.00 donation towards supporting TAGR and the work we need and want to do! “Trans… invisible and silent no longer... invisible and silent no more!” ■
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THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 487 • MARCH 2015
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Updates are posted daily with drink specials & events
The Avenue Pub 522 Monroe Avenue 585-244-4960
MARCH 2015 • NUMBER 487 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET
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Arts & Entertainment
Ramona Santorelli. Photo by Susan Jordan
Local Topfree activist talks about “Free the Nipple” movement, film By Susan Jordan In 1986 and again in 1989 Rochester area women, organized as the Topfree movement, defied the law making it illegal for women to remove their shirts, as men could freely do. In 1992 New York’s top court, the Court of Appeals, ruled in NYS v. Ramona Santorelli that this was discriminatory, and that women should not be arrested for going “topless”. Ramona Santorelli and the other women involved called their group “Topfree” because the term “topless” implies that women are “less” unless they are concealing their supposedly filthy yet so-desirable female body parts – which were (are) seen as male property. In December of last year, New York Magazine published an article including a section on what they referred to as “toplessness”. This terminology might reflect only the cluelessness of New York Magazine – but the article included a quote from Lina Esco, director of the new documentary “Free the Nipple”, which also used “topless”. Esco did not respond to requests for an Empty Closet interview. A group of NYC women, Free the Nipple, has taken up the cause of what some (but not all – see below) call “toplessness”. Esco’s documentary mentions the case brought about by Rochester women’s civil disobedience which established this freedom for NYS women – although as the article notes, the NYPD and other police departments apparently are not aware of this 23-year-old law, and continue to arrest women for taking off their shirts on a hot day. New York Magazine mentioned that Lino Esco had almost been arrested on her first day of filming in New York. Ramona Santorelli, Rochester Topfree organizer, told The Empty Closet, “Lina Esco never contacted me or interviewed me. I haven’t seen the film; it’s at www.freethenipple.com. I did see film of a demo in NYC and an interview with Lina Esco. She talked about Scout Willis walking shirtless in the East Village. Here’s the funny thing – it’s 23 years later and the issue is still
coming up. The police ignore the law. One is shown saying to protestors, ‘Keep your shirts on – there are kids here.’” The irony is, of course, that breasts are meant to feed infants – to keep kids alive – not to sexually entice men. Yet women’s bodies have been so colonized and demonized by the male-centered culture that the very sight of a breast supposedly will traumatize children. Santorelli commented, “What I noticed is, that although Lina Esco has a feminist perspective, the film I saw doesn’t make the connection with porn and topless bars and how that connects with keeping women in a box, and men owning women’s bodies. One woman interviewed in the documentary says that she didn’t want to ‘offend men’. It seems to be a trend now that women are apologizing and making excuses for simply wanting our rights. We have to tiptoe around men’s feelings. Don’t challenge the patriarchy… I think ‘Free the Female’ would be a better title than ‘Free the Nipple’.” About the topless/topfree question, she said, “Language is a very interesting topic. I had a real consciousness about language. This stage of feminism is more assimilationist. It’s watered-down feminism. I’ve become the overly sensitive feminist oddball now – the radical. “Topfree came about because I was discouraged by the word topless. It has an immediate connection with porn and topless bars, in the media and to people generally. I wanted to use a word that talks about women’s freedom. ‘Shirtless’ is a gender neutral term which can also be used to describe men. I like that as well as topfree.” Santorelli has collaborated with the new wave of Free the Nipple protestors. She said, “I was in Manhattan three summers ago and walked into Central Park, where I saw topfree women holding signs that said ‘Topfree’. I talked to an organizer, Sylvia, who was holding a copy of the statute NYS v. Ramona Santorelli, and I said, ‘That’s me!’ She kissed me and asked me to speak at the demo,
so I gave a little speech about Rochester and the beginning of the Topfree movement. There was a quote from my speech in a Daily News article: ‘I did this to normalize women’s bodies and to help girls grow up with positive body image.’ I was tickled by the newspaper printing that.” Santorelli feels that Topfree is about more than freeing the nipple and women being legally able to go without shirts. “It’s about deeper issues,” she said. “Body self-image, eating disorders, women feeling unsafe to breast feed in public. Women can’t lactate if we are nervous and feel afraid and unsafe. Breasts are meant to feed babies, not arouse men. If our culture is to embrace women’s bodies in a healthy way, it will enable women to breastfeed safely and freely. This was part of expert witness testimony in our 1986 trial.” The threat to children, Santorelli feels, comes not from glimpsing a breast but from guilt-ridden, misogynistic attitudes that instill self hate and shame in females and objectification of women and refusal to take responsibility for their actions in males. She added that although being topfree has been legal for over 20 years, women are still being arrested. “Then the charges are dropped,” she said. “One woman won around $20,000 for false arrest. Holly van Holst was arrested for going topfree in New York and she won in court and got her fines eliminated and got a settlement from NYC. That was not mentioned in the documentary.” Santorelli is angry that after two decades and a change in the law, women in New York must still challenge the social mores of patriarchal culture. “It’s outrageous,” she said.
Drag brunch
Aggy Dune, Kasha Davis and Darienne Lake performed at another Edibles Drag Brunch on Feb. 15. Photos: Jill Frier
Kasha. She (and friends) will preside at screenings of RuPauls’ Drag Race on Monday nights at 9 p.m. at The Bachelor Forum. She is also off on tour frequently, now that she has hit the big time!
Queer Women of Color films screen March 7 at MOCHA This month’s Queer Women of Color Film Festival screening will take place at 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 14 at The MOCHA Center, 189 N. Water St. Door opens at 6:30 p.m. The screenings are free and open to the public and are sponsored by Unity Fellowship Church of Rochester and The Queer Women of Color Media Arts Project.
Sam Smith wants his music to inspire gay youth By Darren Wee on gaystarnews. com. Photo via samsmithworld/ Instagram British singer Sam Smith has said he wants to make music that inspires gay youths. The Grammy-winner said he hoped his debut album, about his unrequited love for a straight man, would comfort gay children for years to come. “I’m just trying to make music that stands the test of time. So that, in 400 years, when a little kid who’s gay listens to In the Lonely Hour,
Aggy Dune entertains L.O.R.A. members.
Darienne.
or my next record, he will be inspired,” he told the London Evening Standard. The singer also vowed to be a “different type of pop star” who is the same in his personal life as he is under the spotlight. “I want to be a different type of pop star. I want to be a pop star who’s not Photoshopped, who’s straight-on human... Honesty is timeless,” he said. Last month, In the Lonely Hour returned to number one in the UK after he dominated the Grammy Awards with four wins. - See more at: http:// www.gaystarnews.com/ article/sam-smith-wantshis-music-inspire-gaykids160215#sthash.5T1pHGne.
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THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 487 • MARCH 2015
Scott G. Brooks creates “Phantasmagorical” art By Christopher Harrity on The Advocate “Phantasmagorical” is a word that gets too easily bandied about these days, especially in the graphic novel world and within geekdom at large, but Scott G. Brooks’s meticulous paintings deserve the label. Their bizarre invented creatures, with disturbing sexuality, make up his new exhibit “Inappropriate Nature.” “As a gay man, I have been labeled by many as ‘inappropriate’ my entire life,” said Brooks in his comments on the exhibit. “By default my work has also been suspect. I learned long ago that I couldn’t control this, and instead embraced the fact that I, and my work, didn’t always fit in. Because of this I have never felt the need to create work that was mainstream or aligned with any preconceived notions of what art is. While I strive for beauty in the execution of the work, the subjects and themes reflect ideas and ‘nature’ that may not be aesthetically pleasing to some.” Originally from Flint, Michigan, Brooks attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and currently lives with his partner in Washington, D.C. His subject matter ranges from portraiture to intricate narratives. War, sex, and the abuse of the natural world repeat as themes in “Inappropriate Nature,” with a sense of absurdity suggesting Sir John Tenniel’s illustrations for Alice in Wonderland and Daumier’s political cartoons. In addition to exhibiting in galleries, Brooks has illustrated several children’s books and a number of covers for D.C.’s Metro Weekly. “Inappropriate Nature” is at Last Rites Gallery through April 4; 325 W. 38th St., #1, NYC 10018.
Patricia Arquette speaks out in support of Bruce Jenner’s transition
The show debuted in San Diego in 2012. It deals with Takei’s experiences as a child in a WW II internment camp for Japanese -Americans.
By Greg Hernandez on gaystarnews.com Photo: NBC Patricia Arquette, who won the Oscar for her performance in “Boyhood,” spoke out in support of Bruce Jenner’s decision to transition to female and slammed the tabloid press for the way they have covered it. “These newspapers, these magazines, that are being so disrespectful,” Arquette said during a Feb. 11 appearance on The Meredith Vieira Show. “They should be ashamed because they really are on the unforgivable side of history and what they are doing is pathetic and immature and repulsive.” For Arquette, the issue is deeply personal as she has a famous transgender sister, Alexis Arquette, who made headlines recently for revealing she had slept with Jared Leto when she was still presenting as a man. “I feel like Alexis, my sister, has taught me so much about love and acceptance,” Arquette told Vieira. “It’s a very difficult thing to be transgender, especially twenty years ago when Alexis started. I said, ‘I don’t care what package you’re comfortable in, I love and accept you. I am glad you are here on earth. I want to be with you, spend time with you.’” Arquette, whose other siblings include actor David Arquette and actress Rosanna Arquette, referred to the 1976 Olympic Gold Medalist and Keeping Up With the Kardashians cast member as “Mrs. Jenner”. “You have to be so brave to live this truth of who you are,” Arquette said. “I give all my support to her and love and appreciate everything she has given to America and her bravery because she is fighting a fight for a lot of kids that are being kicked out of their own homes, society turns their back on these kids. It’s really brutal.” - See more at: http://www.gaystarnews. com/article/patricia-arquette-slams-tabloid-coverage-bruce-jenners-transitionpathetic-and-immature-and-#sthash. tiHxfS50.dpuf
Laverne Cox to play trans attorney on CBS show “Doubt”
Indie film explores lives of gay farmers
Scott Bakula plays “matter of fact” AIDS survivor on “Looking”: “He gave a lot of soul energy away” By Greg Hernandez on gaystarnews.com If Scott Bakula looks a bit tired in his scenes on HBO’s “Looking” this season, he’s got a good reason. The 60-year-old actor juggled the shooting of his scenes with the filming of his new CBS hit series “NCIS: New Orleans”. He tells tells xfinity.com: “It was fun in terms of energetically [but] it was a nightmare because I was shooting here in New Orleans late on a Friday night until two in the morning or whatever and then getting up at six, taking two flights to get to San Francisco and then shooting until two in the morning on Saturday morning, and then getting two flights back on Sunday and be back to work on Monday. So that was a challenge.” But he feels it has been worth it to be able to play the role of Lynn, an entrepreneur involved with the decades younger Dom (Murray Bartlett). Bakula describes Lynn as a survivor who he has been honored to play. “He was there when the AIDS crisis began. He lost his friends. He lost the love of his life basically,” the actor explains. “He became, I think, relatively pragmatic about life and kind of matter-of-fact about it, and I think he gave and gave and gave a lot of his soul energy away. “I think he saw something in Murray’s character, in Dom, that reminded him of the past, of his real, true love and at the same time, there’s a part of him that can only go so far anymore, if that makes sense. “It’s not that he’s dead inside. He’s still got a lot of passion and a lot of life, but he’s mature, and he’s seen a lot, and a lot of what he’s seen wasn’t good and yet, that community that went through that and survived that time and stood proud and strong and tall and held people as they died and all of those things, they’re amazing, amazing people. I think of him in that light, and it was an honor to get to play someone like him.” - See more at: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/scott-bakula-says-surviving-aidsepidemic-why-his-looking-character-so-matter-fact-about-lif#sthash.EvIaC1sg.dpuf
The idea of the strong, strapping, knowledgeable farmer providing for his family is almost as American as apple pie. In reality, however, farmers are a much more diverse set of people than traditional ideas would have you think. In its new film Out Here, The Queer Farmer Film Project explores what it means to be a modern-day queer farmer here in America. The film, which is now touring throughout the midwest and along the west coast, explores the relationship between the growing community of queer farmers and the larger modern food production industry that sustains our country. Read more: http://www.towleroad. com/#ixzz3S6i9iIfX
Fans demand tickets months before George Takei’s Broadway show “Allegiance” opens Via the New York Post: Can Twitter followers turn a Broadway show into a hit? Openly gay “Star Trek” star George Takei has a total 9.5 million followers on social media, and demand for tickets to his upcoming Broadway show has been riding high months before tickets actually go on sale. Takei’s musical, “Allegiance,” opens in October, and the box office isn’t open for months. But producers have been getting so many ticket requests, they’ve set up a priority list to give fans first dibs on tickets. They’ve received 10,000 orders to date, and are also giving early birds a download of the cast album when it comes out.
Via Entertainment Weekly: In what could be another milestone role in broadcast TV diversity, CBS has cast transgender actress Laverne Cox in its legal procedural pilot Doubt. The Orange is the New Black actress will play a transgender Ivy League-educated attorney, described as “as competitive as she is compassionate. She’s fierce, funny and the fact that she’s experienced injustice first hand makes her fight all the harder for her clients.” The Doubt role was always conceived as a transgender character, and it’s tough to imagine a better catch for the part – Cox made the cover of Time magazine last year in a story about the transgender movement. While there have been plenty of transgender characters on broadcast TV shows in the past, they are often short-term parts or comedic roles. -JoeMyGod.com
Pandora Boxx talks about her travels By Gareth Johnson on gaystarnews.com Image supplied by Pandora Boxx. Pandora Boxx has undoubtedly been one of the stars to emerge from the phenomenon that is RuPaul’s Drag Race. A frequent flyer who jets around the world to perform, we recently caught up with Pandora to swap travel stories. What’s been the most random destination you’ve visited? My job takes me all over the world which is pretty amazing. It’s always amazing to see LGBT Prides all over the country, especially in small cities. Cities like Moscow, Idaho, Kalamazoo, Michigan and Guerneville, California. I never even knew they were cities! I had an amazing time in each of them and I’m so glad I got to experience it. Where has been your best vacation and why? Vacation? I don’t know if I get too many of those. There always seems to be work involved. My boyfriend and I did get to go to Australia for a show there but we also got to spend a week there. We made great friends there. It made for a nice little vacation before the show. Where has been your worst vacation and why? I went to Disney World with my boyfriend (at the time) and his family. He was a complete turd on the trip. I felt bad because his parents paid for this whole trip and he was just miserable for no reason. I think his parents liked me better than him on this ‘vacation.’ Thankfully, I had the good sense to break up with him shortly after this debacle. What has been your most romantic trip? I don’t think I’ve ever taken a romantic trip. Sad face. I think most of my travel has been for work. I need to work on doing a
MARCH 2015 • NUMBER 487 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET romantic getaway this year. Would you avoid any specific countries? Any country that is adamantly against gay rights. Unless I knew of an LGBT group or something that I could visit and show my support for them. Do you prefer to travel solo or with a partner? If I’m working, I usually travel solo. That way I can rest and have a bit of quiet time before I need to let crazy Pandora out of her Boxx. What is your favourite thing about your home city? I moved to Los Angeles three years ago and what I love most, besides no snow, is that there is always something going on. I don’t think you could ever be bored living in LA. Where were you going the last time you stepped on a plane? I was going to Orlando to do a show at the Parliament House. I always have a fabulous time there and it’s one of the oldest gay establishments in the country. Those gals put on one hell of a show. Where do you hope to go on vacation this year and why? I would absolutely love to go to Hawaii. I want to get back to Key West. We stopped there when we did the Al & Chuck
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Travel Drag Stars at Sea Cruise but I want to go when I have more time. Oh, and Dollywood. We keep talking about it and it needs to happen. What is your dream destination and why? Some place warm with a beach nearby but that’s close enough to some fun gay bars. A gal has to get her drink on, ya know? - See more at: http://www.gaystarnews. com/article/trailblazer-pandora-boxx-whydisney-world-wasnt-much-fun-kalamazoowas-memorable170215#sthash.hblcZ7pG. dpuf You can follow the travels of Pandora Boxx via Twitter. much-fun-kalamazoo-wasmemorable170215#sthash.hblcZ7pG.dpuf
Keith Haring’s Australian mural vandalized Famed artist Keith Haring died 25 years ago on Feb. 16. And this just happened in Australia on that day: Vandals have desecrated a heritage-protected mural in Melbourne’s north. Australia’s only surviving mural by world-renowned artist Keith Haring has been seemingly untouched for more than 30 years. But on Feb. 14, Collingwood locals found it covered in black graffiti, the name “Keith Renks” scribbled along with a love heart. Haring, an American artist and social activist known for his political work the world over, died in 1990 after contracting AIDS. During a fleeting visit to Melbourne in 1984, he painted the mural on the wall of the then Collingwood Technical College — it’s one of just 31 known murals by Haring worldwide. The mural was added to the Victorian Heritage Register in 2004. Just 18 months ago, it was unveiled to the public after being restored to its former glory by Arts Victoria. The above print hangs in the NYC LGBT Community Center where you’ll also find Haring’s famed Once Upon A Time mural in one of the restrooms. -JoeMyGod.com
Honoring Yeou-Cheng Ma for two Careers By Merle Exit It’s hard enough for a woman to have one full-time career. Yeou-Cheng Ma has been maintaining two that are totally different as both a prominent musician and pediatrician. Born in France to Chinese immigrants, her parents had already been in the field of music. Yeou-Cheng’s mother, Marina Lu, was a singer, while her father, Hiao-Tsiun Ma, was an established violinist, composer and professor of music. “I started to learn music at the age of 2 ½,” said Dr. Ma, “when my father taught me the violin. At 3, I took piano lessons, but with someone else.” In fact, she accompanied her famed brother, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, for nine years, although not at his concerts. “We did play together in my father’s orchestra and chamber music during college. Now I teach violin at the Children’s Orchestra Society that my father founded. Upon his retirement my brother was his first request. However, at that time Yo-Yo was busy touring. He then asked me to which I replied, ‘Yes, but not this year since I’m interning pediatrics and working 120 hours out of 168.’” Dr. Ma grew up in Paris, coming over with her family in the early 1960s. “I spoke very little English and was most proficient in math and science. Entering college I decided to major in chemistry. I then applied to both graduate and medical school. Accepted in both at Harvard University, I chose medical school first. It was through the advice of a mentor along with my love for children that I opted to be in the field of Pediatrics.” Practicing since 1982, Dr. Ma specializes in development pediatrics, the care of children with special needs, at Einstein
Medical Hospital in the Bronx. “My focus is on children who have problems communicating.” She described one of her unforgettable memories as a pediatrician spending two months in Puerto Rico. “I was given the opportunity to partake in a free cram course learning to speak Spanish if I wanted to do some practicing in a Spanish speaking country. I chose Puerto Rico spending two months. As a physician it was much easier to communicate with the children in their own language rather than having an interpreter.” Dr. Ma finally took on the role of the Executive Director of COS after getting married and having a child. Her musician husband, Michael Dadap, said that he dreamed about having his own music school. It was then that Dr. Ma took on the role with Dadap as the Artistic and Music Director. Musical “genes” have been passed down to another generation as both of her children are musically inclined. “My son has played the cello, piano, trombone and percussion as well as creating his own set of bagpipes. My daughter loves to sing, plays the cello and is pursuing an acting career.” In fact, Laura has been touring with the show Voca People. Getting a tour of Dr. Ma’s musical basement she spoke about her most fond memory in music as she played violin with her brother at a fundraising concert at the Kennedy Center. “I met Marian Anderson, John F. Kennedy, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Robert Frost, who was reading his poetry, and Danny Kaye. Yo-Yo and I were so fond of Danny Kaye that it was the highlight of the evening.” The basement revealed a piano, a recording studio and some rather artistic décor. Dr. Ma showed off her skills playing a few bars on the piano and part of a music piece on her violin. ■
Darren Criss will be the new Hedwig on Broadway By Jerry Portwood on The Advocate Darren Criss has some mighty big shoes to fill (or tiny ones, if you know the size of John Cameron Mitchell’s feet). The Glee star is wrapping up his role as Blaine this season, and now he is set to play a limited 12-week run on Broadway in Hedwig and the Angry Inch beginning Wednesday, April 29, three days after JCM ends his fabulous run on Broadway in the role he created. “I’ve got a grin plastered on my face that Darren is joining the brotherhood of Hedwigs,” Mitchell said in a statement. “I LOVED him in How to Succeed. His stage presence is electrifying, his rock and roll credentials and comic timing impeccable and I’m thrilled to be working with him to create a brand-new Hedwig!”
Stephen Trask, the show’s composer, also has gushy things to say: “The first time I saw Darren I knew he was a game changer. He’s that good. Then, when we hung out it was like we were old friends. I’m excited to spend the next few months making the show and getting to know each other better. I’m happy that Hedwig can be Darren’s next stop on his way to world domination.” The hairy-chested Criss will most likely have to shave more than the previous actors who have starred in the role so far: Neil Patrick Harris, Andrew Rannells, and Michael C. Hall. But that’s OK, we’re sure he can handle it. And since Criss was a HUGE draw when he took over for Daniel Radcliffe in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, we’re sure he’s gonna be a Broadway box office hit. And it appears that Tony winner Lena Hall, who plays Yitzhak, is prepared to welcome her fifth husband to the stage. ■
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GAY ALLIANCE NEWS FOR MARCH 2015
THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 487 • MARCH 2015
Rowan Collins
Rowan Collins joins the Gay Alliance education staff By Susan Jordan Rowan Collins is the Gay Alliance’s new Education Coordinator. He officially joined the staff in January, but has volunteered and also interned during the past several years. Rowan’s hometown is Albany, and he came to Rochester to attend Nazareth College, where he majored in psychology and minored in women’s and gender
studies. He graduated in May 2014. Rowan first heard about the Gay Alliance from Jason Ballard of Self Made Men. “He told me to go to a Speak Out training — and here I am,” Rowan said. “I started volunteering for the Speaker’s Bureau in January 2012 and have spoken in classrooms in every college in this area, and a couple of high schools and elementary schools. A lot of places!” Rowan said he became interested in working at the Gay
Registration opens for spring SafeZone Train-the-Trainer Certification Programs
The spring session of the Gay Alliance SafeZone Train-theTrainer Certification Program will take place on Friday, March 20, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (check in at 8:30 a.m.) at the Rochester Red Cross. We can also bring this program to your campus or workplace. The SafeZone Train-theTrainer Certification Program is an interactive 8 hour course, which includes activities, small group discussions and opportunities for practicing skills as educators. During this course, participants will be coached in running SafeZone trainings and
offered opportunities to ask and answer questions in a supportive environment using the teaching skills that they acquire. Each participant will receive a SafeZone Training manual that will provide a complete course guide for running SafeZone Trainings, recommended exercises and activities, resources and suggested readings to extend knowledge, handouts to use in future SafeZone Trainings, a Gay Alliance SafeZone sticker and a certificate of course completion. Ongoing support will be available to all participants through the Gay Alliance following the presentation, to offer assistance and suggestions for keeping programs fresh and upto-date. Our January train-thetrainer session filled eight weeks prior to the workshop date, so please register early! To register go to the Gay Alliance home page at www. gayalliance.org and click on the SAFEZONE slide. For questions, please contact Jeanne at jeanneg@gayalliance. org or 585-244-8640 ext. 14
Alliance after his internship last spring. “After helping Scott and Jeannie with education programming, I realized I enjoyed it a lot and thought the work was really worthwhile. I could see change happening. Sometimes I’d run into people who had been in a training and they’d say that what they had learned and the education philosophy we went over had been helpful in having conversations with friends and family. I saw that what we’re doing can make a difference — and that was rewarding.” Rowan speaks both to LGBTQ students and to students who are not gay or trans but will be providing services to and working with LGBTQ people. “Most of what I’ve been doing is talking to social work, nursing, psychology and other students and a lot of the time I do LGBTQ 101 or Trans 101,” he said. Rowan feels the many programs and services the Alliance provides are important to the LGBTQ community in the Rochester area, and that the Alliance serves as a center point for the community. He said, “The amount of issues that we tackle is valuable. We do programming for youth and elders and parents of trans youth, we do the Red Ball and Pride — so we’re here and visible.”
ON
GARD
Marilyn Traver
Volunteer of the Month: Marilyn Traver We’re excited to announce that the March Volunteer of the Month is Marilyn Traver, a member of our Office Volunteer team. Last month, Marilyn completed her first full year of volunteer service with the agency, contributing over 160 hours of her time and energy. Even in the coldest weather Marilyn makes the trip to our office and is always ready to take on any task we have for her. Marilyn comes from Auburn, NY, but moved to Rochester 20 years ago when she came to attend Monroe Community College. Upon graduation she
worked for more than 10 years as sous-chef. She is a sci-fi and fantasy fan, and her favorite character is Supergirl. Marilyn’s work with the Gay Alliance ranges from office work like stuffing envelopes to making entries into our database. She is always ready to cover other shifts for her fellow volunteers when they can’t make it in. Outside the office, Marilyn has joined the organizing committee for our Lick Events Day Party Sundays, where she has played an active role in crafting new events. We are deeply grateful to Marilyn Traver for the spirit and life that she brings to the Gay Alliance and are thrilled to honor her as Volunteer of the Month for February.
Gay Alliance on-line Resource Directory
ON GARD: the online community tool – providing local, state and national resources... twenty-four, seven! www.gayalliance.org
Library & Archives Hours: Every Monday & Wednesday: 6-8pm 875 E. Main Street 1st Floor, (off Prince Street lobby) Rochester, New York 14605 Phone: 585 244-8640 Web: GayAlliance.org
Ride for Pride photo by Owen Zacharias
Ride For Pride 6: please support a rider By Jeanne Gainsburg The Gay Alliance is gearing up for June’s Ride For Pride 2015, the sixth annual bike ride fundraiser for the Gay Alliance. Won’t you help us reach our goal of $25,000 by supporting one of our wonderful riders? To donate, simply go to the Gay Alliance website at www.gayalliance.org and click on the Ride For Pride slide. Then chose a rider to support! Your donation is tax deductible. Thank you so very much for your support!
MARCH 2015 • NUMBER 487 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET
GAY ALLIANCE NEWS FOR MARCH 2015
Become a Gay Alliance Speakers Bureau member At the Gay Alliance, we believe that one of the most effective forms of education is through personal narratives. We receive many requests throughout the year for presenters to speak about their LGBTQ identities and life experiences. Gay Alliance Speakers Bureau Members are trained volunteers who go out into the community to schools, medical centers, faith communities, social service agencies, etc.,
and share their personal stories to help educate others. Some members present several times a month and some only once a year. We work with your schedule, interest and availability. If you would like to become a trained Gay Alliance Speakers Bureau member, the first step is to participate in our SpeakOUT Training on March 13 (Friday evening) and March 14 (all day Saturday). For more information or to register, please go to the Gay Alliance website at www.gayalliance.org and click on the SpeakOUT slide or contact education@gayalliance.org.
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SAGE members made Valentines last month.
SAGE MARCH CALENDAR
• SafeZone Train-the-Trainer Certification Program at Penn State Altoona • Respectfully Communicating with LGBTQ Clients at Geriatric Medicine Community-Wide Geriatric Grand Rounds at Monroe Community Hospital • SafeZone Training at NY State United Teachers (NYSUT) • LGBTQ 101 at six health classes at Pittsford Mendon High School • SafeZone Training at Monroe Community College • LGBTQ 101 at Real World Geneseo • SafeZone Train-the-Trainer Certification Program at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine-Georgia Campus • SafeZone Train-the-Trainer Certification Program at the Gay Alliance • SafeZone Train-the-Trainer Certification Program at Pittsford Central School District • SafeZone Training for School Counselors at Bay Trail Middle School
Tuesday March 3 10:30-11:30: Yoga with Tom 11:30-12:30: Brown bag & beverage 12:30-1:30: April calendar planning. Topic discussion: “What LGBTQ Equality means to Seniors”. Your host: Anne Thursday March 5 10:30-11:30: Yoga with Tom 11:30: No Sage program today Tuesday March 10 10:30-11:30: Yoga with Tom 11:30-12:30: Bro 12:30-1:30: Oasis presentation & programs by Josie & Ginny 1:30-3: Euchre. Your host: Anne Thursday March 12 No Yoga. 10:30-12: Breakfast at Dennys, 911 Jefferson Rd. Please RSVP by 3/10 to 585-287-2958. Your host: Audet Tuesday March 17 10:30-11:30: Yoga with Tom 11:30-3: Get Your Green ON. Brown bag & beverage - Irish history & travelogue. Your host: Anne Tischer Thursday March 19 10:30-11:30: Yoga with Tom 11:30-3: Brown bag & beverage. Games. Bring your favorite games. Your host: Audet Tuesday March 24 10:30-11:30: Yoga with Tom 11:30-12:30: Brown bag & beverage 12:30-1: You and your kidneys. Are you the one in eight? Information from The National Kidney Foundation. Presented by Reba. Then games & conversation. Thursday, March 26 10:30-11:30: Yoga with Tom 11:30-12:30: Brown bag & beverage 12:30-3: Movietime at the Center. Popcorn provided, bring a beverage. Your host Gerry Friday, March 27 5pm: Fish Fry at Jays Diner, 2612 W. Henrietta Rd 14623 $$ 10% senior discount. Please RSVP to 585-287-2958 by 3/25 Tuesday: March 31 10:30-11:30: Yoga with Tom 11:30-3: Brown bag & beverage. Crafts & conversation:“Is LGBTQ culture disappearing?” Your host: Anne Bad weather days: If schools are closed all programs are canceled that day If anyone wants to host an event or an outing please let us know.
Feedback from Evaluations: • “Honestly the best workshop I have attended since I started at Penn State in 2007.” • “Safe place to learn, grow and ask questions. Info was presented very well and in a very engaging way! Honestly, I can’t think of one thing that would improve this workshop. It was positively wonderful.” • “It was eye opening in ways I did not expect. The workshop catered to the participants in a way that provided an amazing experience.”
Rainbow SAGE, For LBGTQ people 50 and over, meets at Open Arms Community Center of Western New York (707 East Main St., Rochester 14605). Yoga is from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. $5 per person Tuesday & Thursday. All programs are subject to change and Rainbow SAGE members are responsible for setting up their own transportation to and from any program. All programs are open to the community and the Gay Alliance welcomes all to participate to enhance the quality of diverse, member-driven programming.
Youth
Our program empowers today’s teens to meet today’s challenges! It provides a safe space to explore their identity, make friends, build community, gain life skills, become a leader and have fun! Fabulous Fridays: 7-9pm. (Ages 13-20) Gender Identity Support Group: Tuesdays: 5:30-6:30pm. (Ages 13-18) More info: youth@gayalliance.org The Gay Alliance 875 E. Main Street, (5th Floor) Auditorium Center, Rochester, NY 14605 Phone: 585-244-8640 • Web: gayalliance.org
Speaking Engagements January 2015
The Gay Alliance is a non-profit agency, dedicated to cultivating a healthy, inclusive environment where Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning (LGBTQ) people are safe, thriving, and enjoying equal rights. We are a coalition of individuals and groups working to empower LGBTQ people to affirm their identities and create an atmosphere where the diversity can thrive both collectively and separately. We educate and advocate for civil rights for all and for the eradication of homophobia. The Gay Alliance, 875 East Main Street, Rochester, New York 14605 • Phone: (585) 244-8640 Fax: (585) 244-8246 Website: www.gayalliance.org E-mail: Info@gayalliance.org Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 am-5 pm • Board President: David Zona Board Vice President: Jessica Muratore Executive Director: Scott Fearing Education Director: Jeanne Gainsburg Database: Kat Wiggall Bookkeeper: Christopher Hennelly Office Administrator: Tristan Wright The Empty Closet: Editor: Susan Jordan E-mail: susanj@gayalliance.org Phone: (585) 244-9030 Designer: Jim Anderson Fax: (585) 244-8246 Advertising: (585) 244-9030
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Resources BISEXUALITY RESOURCES AMBI Los Angeles; American Institute of Bisexuality (Journal of Bisexuality); Bay Area Bisexual Network; ; BiNet USA; Bisexual Organizing Project (BOP); Biversity Boston; Boston Bisexual Women’s Network; ComBIne - Columbus, Ohio; Fenway Health’s Bi Health Program; Los Angeles Bi Task Force; New York Area Bisexual Network; Robyn Ochs’s site; The Bi Writers Association; The Bisexual Resource Center (email brc@biresource.net)
CULTURAL Rochester Women’s Community Chorus 234-4441. (See Ongoing calendar). Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus www.thergmc.org Open Arms Community Center Available for parties, events, meetings. 707 E. Main St. Parking. Accepting and welcoming of all. 271-8478.
DEAF SERVICES Deaf Rainbow Network of Rochester See Facebook. Lilac Rainbow Alliance for the Deaf (LRAD) Meets second Saturdays, 6-9pm. For location, information: rcoaster@rochester.rr.com Spectrum LGBTIQ & Straight Alliance RIT/NTID student group. <SpectrumComment@ groups.facebook.com
ELDERS Gay Alliance Rainbow Sage Many monthly get togethers, some at Open Arms MCC 707 E. Main St. 244-8640; SAGE@gayalliance.org
FAMILY Open Arms Community Center Open Arms Community Center available for parties, events and meetings; 707 East Main St. Plenty of parking. We are inclusive, actively accepting, welcoming of all people. 271-8478 openarmsmcc.org CNY Fertility Center Integrative Fertility Care. Support meetings, webinars, workshops. Information: cbriel@cnyfertility. com; www.cnyhealingarts.com Rochester Gay Moms’ Group Support group for lesbian mommies and wannabe mommies in Rochester and surrounding areas. Subscribe: RochesterGayMoms-subscribe@ yahoogroups.com. Lesbian & Gay Family Building Project Headquartered in Binghamton and with a presence throughout Upstate NY, the Project is dedicated to helping LGBTQ people achieve their goals of building and sustaining healthy families. Claudia Stallman, Project Director, 124 Front St., Binghamton, NY 13905; 607-724-4308; e-mail: LesGayFamBldg@aol.com. Web: www.PrideAndJoyFamilies.org. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) PFLAG’s threefold mission: supporting parents and family members in coming out process; educating the community; advocating on behalf of LGBT family members. rochesterepflag@gmail. com; 585-813-5081. Adoptive Parent Support Group Monthly potluck lunches. For information, location, call Shari, 350-2529. Angel Food Ministry Box of fresh/frozen food for $30 in advance. Menu changes monthly. For information and distribution sites, call 585 861-4815.
HIV/AIDS Free testing for HIV exposure is available from New York State Department of Health: call Rochester Area Regional Hotline at (585) 423-8081, or 1 800 962-5063. Deaf or hearing impaired people should call (585) 4238021 (TDD.) Available from NY Dept. of Health: HIV and STD resource testing site. Rapid testing in only 10 minutes. STD testing provided by Bullshead Clinic, 855 W. Main St., Rochester. Contact: Narissa @ Rochester hotline. Volunteer Legal Services Project (585) 232-3051; www.vlsprochester.org. 1 West Main St., Suite 500 Rochester, NY 14614. Free legal services for low-income HIV positive clients. No criminal cases. Appointments are scheduled at area medical provider locations or by calling 295-5708.
THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 487 • MARCH 2015 Check our monthly and ongoing calendar as well as the community section for more groups and events. For further information, call the Gay Alliance at 2448640 or visit: www.gayalliance.org. Gay Alliance Youth Group info: pages 30-31.
Trillium Health Trillium Health is the leading provider of HIV/ AIDS services in Rochester and the Finger Lakes. On-site services include HIV testing and limited STD screenings, Primary and HIV Specialty Medical Care, Pharmacy, and many more. Satellite offices in Geneva and Bath. Trillium Health is also a leader in providing services and education to members of the LGBT community. Contact Information: Website: www.trilliumhealthny.org. Main Office: 259 Monroe Ave., Rochester, NY 14607; Main Phone: 585-545-7200, Health Services After Hours: 585-258-3363; Case Management After Hours (Lifeline): 585-275-5151; Fax: 585244-6456. Finger Lakes Office: 605 W. Washington St., Geneva, NY 14456, 315-781-6303. Southern Tier Office: 122 Liberty St. Box 624, Bath, NY 14810 607-776-9166. The Health Outreach Project: 416 Central Ave., Rochester, NY 14605; 585-454-5556. Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley Referrals to physicians and service agencies. (585) 244-8640; www.gayalliance.org. Victory Alliance University of Rochester Medical Center. One of several research sites worldwide that comprise the HIV Vaccine Trials Network. Rochester site conducts research vaccine studies sponsored by National Institutes of Health (NIH). 585-7562329; www.vaccineunit.org. Threshold At The Community Place, 145 Parsells Ave., third floor, 585-454-7530. Provides confidential HIV, STD testing and General Health Care, ages 12-25. Sliding fee scale, no one denied, most insurances accepted. Mon., Wed., Fri. 9am-5pm; Tues., Thurs., 9am-7pm; Sat. 10am-2pm. www.ThresholdCenter.org Center for Health and Behavioral Training of Monroe County 853 W. Main St., Rochester 14611. Collaboration of Monroe County Health Department and U.R. Provides year-round training in prevention and management of STDs, HIV, TB and related issues, such as domestic violence and case management. (585)753-5382 v/tty. Planned Parenthood of the Rochester/Syracuse Region 114 University Ave., Rochester, NY 14605; Tollfree Helpline: 1 866 600-6886. Offers confidential HIV testing and information. When you make your appointment, be sure to ask about our sliding scale fees. No one is turned away for lack of ability to pay. Rochester Area Task Force on AIDS A collection of agencies providing a multiplicity of resources and services to the upstate New York community. Their offices are located through the Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency, which also provides medical literature and newspaper clippings, as well as demographic and statistical data for use in developing health care services. (585) 461-3520. The MOCHA Center of Rochester Our mission is to improve health and wellness in communities of color. Youth drop-in center, HIV testing, peer education, support groups, computer lab, referral services and more. 189 N. Water St. (585) 420-1400. Monroe County Health Department at 855 W. Main St., offers testing and counseling for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. (585) 753-5481. Hours: M-W 8:30-5:30; R: 8:30-11 am; F 7:30-2:30. Strong Memorial Hospital provides a complete range of HIV medical care, including access to experimental treatment protocols, and HIV testing. Also provides individual and group psychotherapy. Training of health care professionals also available. Infectious Disease Clinic, (585) 275-0526. Department of Psychiatry, (585) 275-3379. AIDS Training Project, (585) 275-5693. Planned Parenthood of Rochester and Genesee Valley Offers testing and information (585) 546 2595. Rural HIV testing Anonymous and confidential, in Allegany, Livingston, Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne or Yates Counties, call 1 800 962-5063. Action Front Center (Action for a Better Community.) Provides HIV, STD, viral hepatitis prevention counseling, risk reduction counseling. Tailored programs available to incarcerated, ex-offender individuals. Services for people living with HIV; case management, peer support groups, United Colors support group for MSM of color, educational groups, peer educator training and leadership development, multicultural, bilingual staff. 33 Chestnut St., 2nd floor, Rochester 14604. Office hours M-F 8:30 am-5 pm. 585-262-4330.
Anthony L. Jordan Health Center, Prevention and Primary Care. HIV walk-in testing Tues. & Fri.; Hep C walk-inn treating Weds. & Fri; Meet clinician by appointment. 82 Holland St., Rochester 14605. 585-4232879; fax 585-423-2876. www,jordanhealth.org CDC National STD and AIDS Hotline 1-800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636) 24 hours a day. TTY service: 1-888-232-6348. E-mail address: cdcinfo@cdc.gov. Fair Housing Enforcement Project of Monroe County 585-325-2500; 1-800-669-9777. Deals with housing discrimination on basis of race, orientation, HIV status, etc. Public Interest Law Office of Rochester 1 W. Main St., Suites 200 & 300. Free legal services to HIV positive persons, families. Spanish bilingual advocates available. All civil cases except divorce; no criminal cases. Ask to speak to someone in PILOR. 454-4060. Westside Health Services Brown Square Health Center, 175 Lyell Ave. (2546480); Woodward health Center, 480 Genesee St. (436-3040). HIV/AIDS services, support, more. McCree McCuller Wellness Center at Unity Health’s Connection Clinic (585) 368-3506, 89 Genesee St., Bishop Kearney Bldg., 3rd floor. Full range of services, regardless of ability to pay. Caring, confidential and convenient. Geneva Community Health 601 W. Washington St., Geneva. Provides HIV testing, HIV specialty and primary care for residents of Ontario and surrounding counties. M, W, R, F 8am-8pm. 315-781-8448.
LGBT HEALTH Trillium Health See www.trilliumhealthny.org, www.everybodysgood.com LGBT Healthy Living Veterans support. Second, fourth Tuesdays, 10-11am Canandaigua VA, bldg. 9 room 8. 585 463-2731, 585 205-3360. HCR Home Care We provide a full multidisciplinary team consisting of nursing, social work, physical, occupational, and speech therapies as well as home health aides who have completed the eight-hour cultural competency program provided by the Gay Alliance. For more information, contact us at 585272-1930 or visit us online at HCRhealth.com. Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley See www.gayalliance.org Resource Directory under “Health” for Gay Alliance referrals to physicians and service agencies. CNY Youth Group Bi-Polar Support. Second Monday of every month. 315-428-9366.
TRANSGENDER (TAGR) Trans Alliance of Greater Rochester Support/educational group for gender variant people and allies. Last Saturday, 3-5:30pm, Open Arms MCC, 707 E. Main St. Adult Families of Trans Youth (AFTY) First Tuesdays, 5:30-6:30pm, Open Arms MCC, 707 E. Main St. Trans Lifeline Hotline for transgender people experiencing crisis. Staffed by transgender people for transgender people. Trans Lifeline volunteers are ready to respond to whatever support needs callers might have. The Trans Lifeline number is (877) 5658860. Additional info is available at www.translifeline.org. Empire Justice Center Julia A. Sáenz, Esq. Hanna S. Cohn Equal Justice Fellow, Empire Justice Center, LGBT Rights Project, Telesca Center for Justice, 1 West Main Street, Suite 200, Rochester, NY 14614. (585) 295-5721 Fax (585) 454-2518, jsaenz@empirejustice.org, www.empirejustice.org.
Volunteer Legal Services Project (585) 232-3051; www.vlsprochester.org.1 West Main St. Suite 500, Rochester, NY 14614. Free legal services for low-income clients seeking a name change. Other legal services for lowincome clients include family law issues, bankruptcy, unemployment insurance hearings, wills and advance directive documents for clients with serious illnesses. Gay Alliance Youth Gender Identity Support Group Tuesdays 5:30-6:30 Gay Alliance office, 5th floor. 875 E. Main St., Ages 13-18. 244-8640 Genesee Valley Gender Variants Thurs. 7-9pm, Equal Grounds, 750 South Ave. GVGenderVariants@yahoogroups.com Guys Night Out Social group for transmen. Second Saturdays, 1pm, Equal Grounds, 750 South Ave. tguysnightout@gmail.com
WOMEN Highland Hospital Breast Imaging Center 500 Red Creek Drive, Rochester 14623; 585487-3341. Specializing in breast health, diagnostic breast imaging and treatment and mammography outreach and education. Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester 840 University Ave.; 585-473-8177; www.bccr. org; email: info@bccr.org. Breast Cancer Coalition provides support services that include programs designed to help those coping with a recent breast cancer diagnosis and those coping with an advanced breast cancer diagnosis, such as the Advanced Breast Cancer Support Group to support women living with metastatic breast cancer. Information about breast cancer, lending library, a monthly educational program. All BCCR programs, support services free. Center for Community Health (585) 224-3050. Comprehensive breast cancer screening services for uninsured and underinsured women. Elizabeth Wende Breast Clinic 170 Sawgrass Drive. 442-8432. Dr. Wende Logan-Young and an all-woman staff provide mammograms. Self Help for Women with Breast or Ovarian Cancer (SHARE) Breast: 866-891-2392; Ovarian: 866-537-4273. Alternatives for Battered Women 232-7353; TTY 232-1741. Shelter (women only), counseling. Lesbians, gay men welcome. Victim Resource Center of Wayne County Newark N.Y. Hotline 800-456-1172; office (315)331-1171; fax (315)331-1189. Mary Magdalene House Women’s outreach center for HIV positive women and women at risk. 291 Lyell Ave. Open Mon-Fri. 6:30-9:30pm. Planned Parenthood of the Rochester/ Syracuse Region 114 University Ave., Rochester, NY 14605; Toll-free Helpline: 1-866-600-6886. Planned Parenthood has led the way in providing high quality, affordable reproductive health care since 1916. All services are confidential. Accept most insurances; including Medicaid. You may qualify for low- to no-cost family planning services. When you make your appointment, ask about our sliding scale fees. No one turned away for lack of ability to pay. Women’s Shelter YWCA, 175 N. Clinton Ave. 546-5820.
YOUTH Gay Alliance Youth Group Fridays, 7-9 pm. Gay Alliance office, 5th floor, 875 E. Main St. 244-8640; Ages 13-20. www. gayalliance.org Gay Alliance Youth Gender Identity Support Group Tuesdays 5:30-6:30 Gay Alliance office, 5th floor. 875 E. Main St., Ages 13-20. 244-8640 Trevor Project The Trevor Project offers 24/7 Lifeline with trained counselors, 1-866-488-7386; Trevor Chat, instant messaging; TrevorSpace online where youth can talk to each other, and Trevor Text, now in development, with text trained counselors for support and crisis intervention. ■
MARCH 2015 • NUMBER 487 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET
Ongoing Calendar DAILY Free HIV Testing 9am-7pm. Trillium Health, 259 Monroe Ave. David Bohnett Cyber Center Gay Alliance 5th floor lounge, Mon.-Thurs. 11am3pm, Fri. 11am-1pm, 875 E. Main St. 244-8640; www.gayalliance.org
MONDAYS L.O.R.A. Coffee Social Weekly on Monday Nights, 7 pm. Equal=Grounds, 750 South Ave. Rochester. Family, Friends & Allies Welcome! Contact Person: Cathie Timian. More info: www.loragroup.org. Events: https://www. facebook.com/groups/L.O.R.A.14464/. Email: info@loragroup.org LORA Late Bloomers Coming Out Group for Women 2nd & 4th Mondays of the Month. 7 pm, Private Location. Call for info! Contact Person: Wanda Martinez. Email: sanlorenzena@yahoo.com. Phone: 585.414.9164. More info: www.loragroup. org. Events: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ L.O.R.A.14464/ Rochester Historical Bowling Society 7pm. Clover Lanes Gay Alliance Library & Archives, Every Mon./Wed. 6-8pm. David Bohnett Cyber Center, 5:30-7:30pm, First floor, 875 E. Main St. 244-8640 Born That Way Formerly 3rd Presbyterian LGBT Support Group. First, 3rd Mondays, 7:30-9:30pm, 34 Meigs St. Carol, 482-3832 or Kaara, 654-7516. HIV Positive Men’s Support group Every Monday, 5pm, Trillium Health Center for Positive Living, 259 Monroe Ave. Frontrunners/Frontwalkers Mondays, 6pm, George Eastman House parking lot. www.rochesterfrontrunners.org. Steps Beyond Stems Crack Support Group, Mondays, 7-8pm, 289 Monroe Ave.
TUESDAYS The Social Grind 10am-12noon and again 7:30-9pm at Equal Grounds, 750 South Ave. Email: DHutch457@aol. com for information Adult Families of Trans Youth (AFTY) First Tuesdays, 5:30-6:30, Open Arms MCC Community Center, 707 E. Main St. LGBT Healthy Living Veterans support. Second, fourth Tuesdays, 10-11am Canandaigua VA, bldg. 9, room 8, Library conference room. 585 463-2731, 585 205-3360. Free syphilis testing Trillium Health, 259 Monroe Ave., 5-8pm. 442-2220. Women’s Community Chorus Rehearsals each Tuesday, 6:30-9pm, Downtown United Pres. Church, 121 N. Fitzhugh Street. 2344441, www.therwcc.org LORA Knitters Group 1st & 3rd Tuesdays of the Month. 7pm-9:30pm, Crossroads Coffee House, 752 S. Goodman St. Rochester. Contact Person: Kerry Cater Email: dressyfemme@aol.com. More Info: www.loragroup.org Events: https://www.facebook.com/ groups/L.O.R.A.14464/
Gay Alliance Trans* Youth Support Group 5:30-6:30 pm, GAGV office, 5th floor, 875 E. Main St. Ages 13-20. 244-8640.
WEDNESDAYS Identity Group The Identity Group is for LGBT identified individuals who have a developmental disability diagnosis. The group meets Wednesdays 3-4 pm at ARC Health Services (2060 Brighton-Henrietta Townline Rd. 14623). The goal of the group is to provide a safe space to discuss identity issues, share personal experiences and increase selfesteem. The group is facilitated by Delaina Fico. LMSW. For more information, please contact Delaina Fico at dfico@arcmonroe.org or 585271-0661 ext. 1552. Gay Alliance Board of Directors Meets Third Wednesdays, 6pm, 875 E. Main St. 244-8640 New Freedom New Happiness AA Gay meeting, 7pm, Unitarian Church, 220 Winton Rd. Men and women. Open. Support Group for Parents who have lost Children First, 3rd Wednesdays, 11am-12:30pm, Third Presbyterian Church, 4 Meigs St. Genesee Region Home Care. Free. 325-1880 COAP Come Out and Play. Wednesday game nights. 8-11 pm. Equal=Grounds, 750 South Ave. 7pm, woody14619@yahoo.com. Rochester Rams General Meeting 2nd Wednesdays, 7:30pm, Bachelor Forum, 670 University Ave. www.rochesterrams.com HIV+ Mixed Men’s Group Wednesdays, 11:30 am-12:30 pm. Trillium Health, 259 Monroe Ave. Frontrunners/Frontwalkers 6pm, Eastman House parking lot. www.rochesterfrontrunners.org. Gay Alliance Library & Archives, Every Mon./Wed. 6-8pm. David Bohnett Cyber Center, 5:30-7:30pm, First floor, 875 E. Main St. 244-8640 Empire Bears Every Wednesday. 6pm dinner at various venues. www.empirebears.com
THURSDAYS Presbyterians for Lesbian and Gay Concerns 6:30pm, first Thursday. Ralph, 271-7649 Pride at Work & AFL CIO First Thursdays, 5:30pm. 1354 Buffalo Road, Rochester 14624, 426-0862. GLOB&L (Gays & Lesbians of Bausch & Lomb) Meets every third Thursday in Area 67 conference room at the Optic Center. Voice mail: 338-8977 Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus Downtown United Presbyterian Church, 121 N. Fitzhugh St. 6:30-9pm, 423-0650 Free confidential walk-in HIV testing M, W, R, F 9 am-7 pm; T 9a,-5pm., Trillium Health, 259 Monroe Ave. 442-2220 Out & Equal Second Thursdays Social/business networking, 5:30-7:30pm. Changing venues. E-mail: fingerlakes@outandequal.org Genesee Valley Gender Variants 7-9pm, Equal=Grounds, 750 South Ave. GV GenderVariants@yahoogroups.com
LORA - Buffalo Women’s Coffee Social Weekly on Thursday Nights, 6pm. Spot Coffee, 765 Elmwood, Buffalo. Contact Person: Barb Henderson Email: Morningstar5588@yahoo.com More Info: www.loragroup.org. Events: https:// www.facebook.com/groups/buffaloles/
FRIDAYS Gay Men’s AA meeting Fridays, 7:30-8:30pm, Closed meeting. Emmanuel Baptist Church, 815 Park Ave. Gay Alliance Youth Fridays, 7-9pm, Gay Alliance, 5th floor, 875 E. Main St., 244-8640; Ages 13-20. youth@gayalliance.org GLBTQI Motorcycle Group Second Fridays, 5:30pm, Various locations. RochesterGLBTIQbikers@yahoo.com; 467-6456; bmdaniels@frontiernet.net. LORA GaYmes Night Meets 4th Friday of the Month, 7-10pm, Equal Grounds Coffee House, 750 South Ave. Rochester. Contact Person: Christine O’Reilly. Email: irishfemmerochester@yahoo.com. Phone: 585.943.1320. More Info: www.loragroup.org. Events: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ L.O.R.A.14464/ Monthly LBTQ Womyns Bingo Night Third Fridays, 7 pm, at Empire Bingo. Contact: Christine, IrishFemmeRochester@yahoo.com; 585-943-1320 text/talk.
SATURDAYS Rochester Rams Bar Night Third Saturdays, 8pm-2am, Bachelor Forum, 670 University Ave. 271-6930 Trans Alliance of Greater Rochester Support/educational group for gender-variant people, allies. Last Saturdays, 3-5:30pm, Open Arms MCC, 707 E. Main St. Frontrunners/Frontwalkers 9am, George Eastman House parking lot.www. rochesterfrontrunners.org. Guys Night Out GNO, social group for transmen, now meets on the second Saturday of the month, @ 1pm @ Equal Grounds, 750 South Ave. Saturday Night Special Gay AA 7pm, Unitarian Church, 220 Winton Rd., S. Men and women. Open meeting. Lilac Rainbow Alliance for the Deaf (LRAD) 2nd Saturdays, 6-9pm. rcoaster@rochester.rr.com Sophia’s Supper Club First, third Saturdays, 25 Bernie Lane, 6:30 pm. Men’s Cooking Group Third, fourth Saturdays. 585-355-7664; mcgofrochester@aol.com.
SUNDAYS PFLAG (Parents Families & Friends of Lesbians And Gays) 585 813-5081; rochesterpflag@gmail.com. Dignity-Integrity 1st Sunday: 5pm Episcopal Eucharist with music; 2nd Sunday: 5pm Roman Catholic Liturgy of the Word with music; 3rd Sunday: 5pm Episcopal Eucharist (quiet); 4th Sunday: 5pm Prayers to start the week, followed by potluck supper. Open Arms Metropolitan Community Church 707 E. Main St. Rochester, Services at: 10:30 am and 5:30 pm. 271-8478. Gay Men’s Alcoholics Anonymous St. Luke’s/St. Simon Cyrene Church, 17 S. Fitzhugh St. 8pm, 232-6720, Weekly. Closed meeting LORA Sunday Brunch 1st & 3rd Sunday of the Month, 11:30am 1:30pm. Jays Diner, 2612 W. Henrietta Rd., Rochester. Contact Person: Cathie Timian. More info: www.loragroup.org. Events: https://www.facebook.com/groups/L.O.R.A.14464/. Email: info@ loragroup.org Gutter Gals - Bowling 2nd & 4th Sundays, 6:30pm - 9:30pm. Bowl A Roll, 1560 Jefferson Rd. $5.70 for 2 games & $2.50 for shoes. For more info: http://www. facebook.com/groups/guttergals/Contact Person: Cathie: Email: ctimian@l-o-r-a.com; Phone: 585.313.3037 ■
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ROCHESTER AA/NA MEETINGS Every week there are four regularly scheduled GLBTI AA and two inclusive NA meetings in Rochester.
ROCHESTER TUESDAYS
AA/NA MEETINGS
Narcotics Anonymous 6-7:30pm. AIDS and Recovery 1124 Culver Road (Covenant United Methodist Church) This is an NA meeting that is open to all addicts who have a desire to stop using. Although it is not specifically a gay-oriented meeting, it is welcoming to people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as to anyone who is affected by HIV and AIDS.
WEDNESDAYS New Freedom/New Happiness Group 7pm. First Unitarian Church, 220 S. Winton Rd. Bus riders: Take the last #18 University bus to 12 Corners. Use the stop just past the top of the hill at Hillside Ave. and before Highland Ave. Or take the #1 Park Ave. to the corner of East and Winton, then walk five minutes south (uphill) on Winton. This is an open discussion meeting. All issues – as they relate to our alcoholism/addiction and recovery – are fair game.
FRIDAYS Gay Men’s 7:30pm. Immanuel Baptist Church, 815 Park Ave. • Closed meeting, restricted to alcoholics and addicts • Men’s meeting • Handicapped accessible This is a round-robin discussion meeting. If you are shy about meeting people or speaking up in a group, you will find this meeting particularly warm and inviting because everyone gets their turn to speak (or pass). As a result, this meeting often runs long, so plan on more than the usual hour.
SATURDAYS Saturday Night Special 7pm. First Unitarian Church, 220 S. Winton Rd. Bus riders: The #18 University Ave. bus does not go by the church on weekend evenings. Take the #1 Park Ave. bus to the corner of East and Winton, then walk five minutes south (uphill) on Winton. • Open meeting, all are welcome, “straight friendly” • Mixed men and women • Handicapped accessible, take elevator to basement Meeting begins with a speaker, followed by open discussion.
SUNDAYS Step in the Right Direction 7:30-9pm. 1275 Spencerport Road (Trinity Alliance Church) This is an NA meeting that is open to all addicts who have a desire to stop using. Although it is not specifically a gay-oriented meeting, it is welcoming to people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. Each week features a reading from NA literature, followed by discussion. Rochester Gay Men 8pm. St. Luke/St. Simon’s Episcopal Church, 17 S. Fitzhugh Street. Bus riders use the Fitzhugh Street stop on Main Street at the County Office Building and walk south one block. • Closed meeting, restricted to alcoholics and addicts • Men’s meeting • NOT handicapped accessible Meeting begins with a speaker, followed by open discussion.
PFLAG MEETS
3RD SUNDAY OF EACH MONTH Meetings are at Open Arms Metropolitan Community Church 707 E. Main St., Rochester, NY 14605 from 1 to 3pm. Questions? Call: 585-813-5081 RochesterPFLAG@gmail.com Join us!
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March SUNDAY 1
Dignity Integrity. Episcopal Mass/ Healing Service, with music, 5 pm, St. Luke’s and St. Simon’s Church, 17 S. Fitzhugh St.
THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 487 • MARCH 2015 Empire Bears potluck at Gay Alliance office, 5th floor, 875 E. Main St. 6 pm. Queer Women of Color Film Festival screening. 7 pm, MOCHA Center, 189 N. Water St. Free. Sponsored by Unity Fellowship Church of Rochester and The Queer Women of Color Media Arts Project.
SUNDAY 15
MONDAY 2
Dignity Integrity. Episcopal Mass, quiet. 5 pm, St. Luke’s and St. Simon’s Church, 17 S. Fitzhugh St.
WEDNESDAY 4
Empty Closet deadline for April. 244-9030; susanj@gayalliance.org. Queer Body Love Yoga. 5:30 pm, Trillium Health, 259 Monroe Ave. Health Month event.
RuPauls’ Drag Race screening at Bachelor Forum, featuring Mrs. Kasha Davis and friends. 9 pm every Monday. LGBT Kinky Trivia. 7:30 pm, 140 Alex Bar & Grill. Health Month event. Flower City Pride Band Open House. 6:30 pm at Open Arms MCC Community Center, 707 East Main St. Empire Bears at Jay’s Diner, W. Henrietta Ave. 6 pm.
FRIDAY 6
Baila Friday. 10 pm, Tilt, 444 Central Ave. Health Month event.
SATURDAY 7
Early bird registration ends for Pride Agenda Equality & Justice Day in Albany. www.prideagenda.org/EJDay
SUNDAY 8
Dignity Integrity. Roman Catholic Liturgy of the Word, with music. 5 pm, St. Luke’s and St. Simon’s Church, 17 S. Fitzhugh St. Open Arms MCC Agape Supper. 5:30 pm, 707 E. Main St. Shoulders To Stand On screening. 2 & 7 pm, MuCCC, 142 Atlantic Ave. Free.
WEDNESDAY 11
Empire Bears at JB Quimby’s, S. Winton Rd. 6 pm.
FRIDAY 13
SpeakOUT Training. Friday evening and March 14 all-day training. For more information or to register, please go to the Gay Alliance website at www.gayalliance. org and click on the SpeakOUT slide or contact education@gayalliance.org. Ambush Rochester. 5:30 pm, location TBA. Health Month event.
SATURDAY 14
TAGR planning group meeting. 3-5 pm, Open Arms MCC, 707 E. Main St.
SERVICES
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International Trans Day of Visibility; TAGR Open House, 6-8 pm, Open Arms MCC, 707 E. Main St. Health Month event. 50 Ways to Play: Exploring Safe & Respectful Kink. 7 pm, Rochester Brainery. For self identified women 18+. Health Month event. ■
SUNDAY 29
Trans Self Care. 1-5 pm, Trillium Health. Health Month event. Dignity Integrity. Palm Sunday Mass. 5 pm, St. Luke’s and St. Simon’s Church, 17 S. Fitzhugh St.
WEDNESDAY 18
Empire Bears at Carabba’s, W. Henrietta Ave. 6 pm.
THURSDAY 19
MOCHA Soiree. 6:30-8:30 pm at Ballroom 384, 384 East Ave. Live jazz band, Trio More; passed hors d’oeuvres, champagne; silent auction; cash bar; Rochester launch of HIV STOPS WITH ME media campaign. Tickets $50, at MOCHA Center, 189 N. Water St. Online link: http://mochasoiree.eventbrite.com/. Tickets must be purchased by noon, March 12.
FRIDAY 20
SafeZone Train the Trainer Certification Program. 9 am-5 pm (check in at 8:30 am) at the Rochester Red Cross. Register at www.gayalliance.org -- click on SAFEZONE slide. Info at jeanneg@ gayalliance.org or 585-244-8640 ext. 14
SATURDAY 21
Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus concert. “FantABBAtastic”. 8 pm, Hochstein.
SUNDAY 22
Dignity Integrity. Roman Catholic Evening Prayer, followed by a Potluck Dinner. 5 pm, St. Luke’s and St. Simon’s Church, 17 S. Fitzhugh St.
WEDNESDAY 25
Creating LGBTQ Families. Panel discussion, etc. Health Month event. 6-8 pm, Trillium Health. ImageOut presents “An Evening of Comedy at the Little Theatre.” $7; 6:30 pm. Little Theatre 2.
Classified ads are $5 for the first 30 words; each additional 10 words is another $1. We do not bill for classifieds, so please send or bring ad and payment to: The Empty Closet, 875 E. Main Street, Suite 500, Rochester, New York 14605. Paying by check: checks must be made out to Gay Alliance. The deadline is the 15th of the month, for the following month’s issue. We cannot accept ads over the phone. Pay when you place your ad. We will accept only ads accompanied by name and phone number. Neither will be published, but we must be able to confirm placement. The Empty Closet is not responsible for financial loss or physical injury that may result from any contact with an advertiser. Advertisers must use their own box number, voice mail, e-mail or phone number. No personal home addresses or names allowed. Classified ads are not published on The Empty Closet page of our website. However, each issue of the paper is reproduced online in its entirety. Children’s Ministry thriving at Open Arms Metropolitan Community Church for toddlers to ‘tweens. Join us for vibrant, inclusive, progressive worship on Sundays at 10:30 am, 707 E. Main St. info@openarmsmcc.org; (585) 271-8478.
TUESDAY 31
TAGR support group meeting. 3-5 pm, Open Arms MCC, 707 E. Main St.
MONDAY 16
Classifieds
ANNOUNCEMENTS
SATURDAY 28
cretion appreciated and practiced. Don’t delay, call me today at 585-773-2410 (cell) or 585-235-6688 (home). Handyman: Simple repairs or full renovations, no job is too large or small. Carpentry, Plumbing, Electrical, Interior & Exterior. 35 years experience. Call Alan & Bill 585-204-0632 or cell 304-517-6832. Martin Ippolito master electrician. Electrical work, telephone jacks, cable TV, burglar alarm systems, paddle fans. 585-266-6337. Wedding Space and clergy services available. Celebrate your special day at Open Arms Metropolitan Community Church, 707 E. Main St. info@ openarmsmcc.org (585) 271-8478.
Joe Russo, Psy.D., CGP
nge a h oC t t ke Roc
Licensed Psychologist Certified Group Psychotherapist 25 Canterbury Road, Suite 313 Rochester, New York 14607 Phone: (585) 506-6096 E-mail: joerussopsyd@gmail.com
Addiction ▼ Anxiety ▼
Depression ▼ Grief/Loss ▼
Trauma ▼ Relationships ▼
▼ Weekly
Bi/Gay Men’s Therapy Group
MARCH 2015 • NUMBER 487 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET
The Empty Closet is published by the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley 875 E. Main Street, Suite 500 Rochester, New York 14605 © 2014, All rights reserved. Editor-in-Chief: Susan Jordan Staff Reporter: Ove Overmyer Graphic Design: Jim Anderson Advertising policy: The Empty Closet does not print advertisements that contain nude drawings or photographs, nor does it print advertising that states that the person pictured in the ad is for sale, or that you will “get” that particular person if you patronize the establishment advertised. Advertisements that are explicitly racist, sexist, ageist, ableist or homophobic will be refused; advertisements from organizations that are sexist, racist, ageist, ableist or anti-gay will also be refused. All political advertisements must contain information about who placed them and a method of contact. Additionally, The Empty Closet does not print negative or “attack” advertisements, whether they relate to a product or politics and no matter in whose interest the ad is being produced. A negative advertisement is defined as one that focuses upon a rival product, or in the political area, a rival election candidate or party, in order to point out supposed flaws and to persuade the public not to buy it (or vote for him or her). The Empty Closet maintains, within legal boundaries, neutrality regarding products, political candidates and parties. However, “attack” ads that fail to provide undisputable evidence that the information in the ad is true do not further in any way the objectives and policies of the Gay Alliance or The Empty Closet, including the primary tenet that The Empty Closet’s purpose is to inform the Rochester gay community and to provide an impartial forum for ideas. Submissions: For publication, submit news items, ads, photos, letters, stories, poetry, ads, photographs or art by mail or in person to The Empty Closet office by the 15th of the month. Design services for non-camera ready ads are available for a fee. 244-9030, susanj@gayalliance.org Publication Information: The Empty Closet is published 11 times a year (December and January combined) by The Empty Closet Press for the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley, Inc. Approximately 5000 copies of each issue are distributed during the first week of the month, some by mail in a plain sealed envelope. The publication of the name or photograph of any person or organization in articles is not an indication of the sexual or affectional orientation of that person or the members of that organization. For further information, please write to The Empty Closet, 875 E. Main St., Rochester NY. 14605, call (585) 244-9030 or e-mail emptycloset@gagv.us. The Empty Closet is the official publication of the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley, Inc., as stated in the bylaws of that organization. Its purpose is to inform the Rochester gay community about local and national gayrelated news and events; to provide a forum for ideas and creative work from the local gay community; to help promote leadership within the community, and to be a part of a national network of lesbian and gay publications that exchange ideas and seek to educate. Part of our purpose is to maintain a middle position with respect to the entire community. We must be careful to present all viewpoints in a way that takes into consideration the views of all – women, men, people of color, young and old, and those from various walks of life. The opinions of columnists, editorial writers and other contributing writers are their own and do not necessarily reflect the collective attitude of the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley or The Empty Closet. The Empty Closet shall not be liable for any loss or expense that results from the publication (whether correctly or incorrectly) or omission of an ad. In the event of non-payment, your account may be assigned to a collection agency or an attorney, and will be liable for the charges paid by us to such collection agency or attorney. Letters to the editor: The opinions of columnists, editorial writers and other contributing writers are their own and do not necessarily reflect the collective attitude of the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley or The Empty Closet. We will print letters at the editor’s discretion and on a space available basis. Only one letter by the same writer in a six-month period is allowed. We will not print personal attacks on individuals, nor will we be a forum for ongoing disputes between individuals. We reserve the right to edit for space and clarity. We will print anonymous letters if the name and phone number are provided to the Editor; confidentiality will be respected. Submissions are due by the 15th of the month at: The Empty Closet, 875 E. Main Street, Suite 500, Rochester, NY 14605; e-mail: emptycloset@gagv.us. The online edition of EC is available at www.gayalliance.org.
Bed & Breakfast
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THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 487 • MARCH 2015